Chaenactis douglasii
Chaenactis douglasii, commonly known as Douglas's plumehead, is a resilient perennial herb native to Western North America. Distinguished by its unique, brush-like flower heads, this plant holds historical significance in traditional ethnobotany. Its hardy nature allows it to thrive in diverse habitats, offering intriguing potential for pharmacological study.
- Scientific name: Chaenactis douglasii
- Family: Asteraceae
- Native range: Northern America
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. It is further classified within the order Asterales and the family Asteraceae. Finally, it is identified by its genus, Chaenactis.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Asterales | WCVP |
| Family | Asteraceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Chaenactis | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, Chaenactis douglasii, is known by various regional names depending on the linguistic context. In English, it is most commonly referred to as Douglas's woollycup, while in Spanish, it is known as la copa de lana de Douglas.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|
Distribution
This plant exhibits a broad geographical distribution across parts of Western North America. In Western Canada, its range includes the provinces of Alberta and British Columbia. Moving into the Northwestern United States, it can be found growing in the state of Idaho. The species also extends its reach into Montana within the same region. Additionally, its habitat reaches as far south as Colorado.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Western Canada | Alberta | WCVP |
| Western Canada | British Columbia | WCVP |
| Northwestern U.S.A. | Colorado | WCVP |
| Northwestern U.S.A. | Idaho | WCVP |
| Northwestern U.S.A. | Montana | WCVP |
| Northwestern U.S.A. | Oregon | WCVP |
| Northwestern U.S.A. | Washington | WCVP |
| Northwestern U.S.A. | Wyoming | WCVP |
| North-Central U.S.A. | North Dakota | WCVP |
| North-Central U.S.A. | South Dakota | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, commonly known as Douglas's woolly sunflower, is a desert wildflower that possesses various structural components, though its medicinal utility is often discussed in relation to its underground structures. While much of the plant's visual character comes from its leafy basal rosette and composite flower heads, the roots serve as the essential foundation for its survival in arid environments. These roots anchor the plant firmly in the sandy soil and facilitate the absorption of moisture and nutrients necessary for its seasonal growth cycles.- Total parts
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| roots | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Chaenactis douglasii has 1 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Thiarubrine A.
- Total chemicals
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Thiarubrine A | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Chaenactis douglasii has 2 reported activities identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antibacterial, Antifungal.
- Total activities
- 2
- Scientific sources
- 2
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Antibacterial | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antifungal | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |