Woody Fleabane

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Woody Fleabane
• false yellowhead
• woody-fleabane

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Cupularia viscosa
• Erigeron viscosus
• Helenium viscosum
• Solidago viscosa
• Pulicaria viscosa
• Paniopsis viscosa
• Inula viscosa

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. It is categorized within the order Asterales and the family Asteraceae. Finally, its specific taxonomic placement is within the genus Dittrichia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a varied presence across several distinct regions of the European continent. In Northern Europe, its range extends to include both Great Britain and Ireland. Moving toward Middle Europe, the species can be found growing in Belgium and Germany. Its distribution further reaches the Mediterranean as part of Southwestern Europe. Specifically, it is known to inhabit the Baleares islands within that southern region.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Dittrichia viscosa is characterized by its high adaptability to diverse and often disturbed environments, thriving across a broad altitudinal spectrum. It occupies a vertical range starting from sea level at 0 m AMSL and extending up to a maximum elevation of 1500 m AMSL. This species typically colonizes ruderal habitats, coastal areas, and rocky slopes, where it demonstrates significant resilience to varying degrees of drought and nutrient-poor soils. As a pioneer species, it often establishes itself in disturbed ground, playing a crucial role in stabilizing soil and contributing to the early stages of ecological succession in Mediterranean-type ecosystems.

Elevational range max:

1500 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Dittrichia viscosa is characterized by its classification as a perennial plant, though it exhibits a variable lifecycle that can fluctuate between annual, biennial, and perennial stages depending on environmental conditions. Morphologically, the species is categorized as a hemicryptophyte, a life form where the perennating buds are located at the soil surface, protected by leaf litter or other organic debris during unfavorable seasons. This growth habit allows the plant to persist through various climatic stresses, ensuring its ability to re-emerge and dominate disturbed habitats through its robust reproductive and survival strategies.

Life form :

hemicryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Dittrichia viscosa is characterized by its growth form as a woody, self-supporting herb and forb that thrives in terrestrial environments. As an independent organism, it does not function as a parasite or an epiphyte, maintaining a terrestrial life habit. The plant typically reaches a height ranging from a minimum of 0.3 m to a maximum of 1.5 m. Its structure is defined by its self-supporting nature, rather than exhibiting any climber or vine-like tendencies.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

1.5 m

Plant height min:

0.3 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Dittrichia viscosa is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, a metabolic strategy common to many temperate and Mediterranean species that allows for efficient carbon fixation under moderate light and temperature conditions. Its morphological adaptations support its physiological processes, most notably through its leaf form, which is elliptic in shape. This leaf structure, often accompanied by a viscous, resinous coating of glandular trichomes, plays a crucial role in regulating transpiration and protecting the plant's physiological functions from excessive water loss and intense solar radiation.

Leaf form :

elliptic

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Dittrichia viscosa is characterized by a sexual process involving bisexual flowers, which ensures genetic diversity through biotic pollination. The flowering period typically commences in August and extends through November, featuring vibrant orange flowers that range in length from 0.65 cm to 1.2 cm and in width up to 1.5 cm. These flowers rely on an insect-driven pollination syndrome to facilitate fertilization, as self-fertilization is noted to be absent. Following successful pollination, the plant produces dry, indehiscent fruits categorized as achenes. These fruits are relatively small, measuring between 0.2 cm and 0.25 cm in length. Each fruit is highly prolific, containing more than 1,000 seeds. The seeds themselves are minute, with a mean mass of approximately 0.0003417 g, ranging from a minimum of 0.0003 g to a maximum of 0.00042 g. Dispersal is achieved via an anemochorous syndrome, meaning the seeds are primarily dispersed by the wind, allowing the species to spread effectively across its habitat.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Flower colour :

orange

Flower length max:

1.2 cm

Flower length min:

0.65 cm

Flower width max:

1.5 cm

Flowering time :

Aug

Flowering time :

Nov

Fruit dryness :

dry

Fruit length max:

0.25 cm

Fruit length min:

0.2 cm

Fruit type :

achene

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction sexual :

bisexual

Seed mass max:

0.00042 g

Seed mass mean:

0.000341666666666667 g

Seed mass min:

3e-04 g

Seeds_per_fruit :

>1000

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Dittrichia viscosa has 2 reported plant parts identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, flower.

Leaf

1. Natural product research
2. Journal of food and drug analysis
3. Bollettino della Societa italiana di biologia sperimentale

Flower

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Scientia pharmaceutica

Chemicals

Dittrichia viscosa has 34 reported phytochemicals identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include CHLOROGENIC ACID, Flavonoids, Inuviscolide, quercetin, Caryophyllene oxide.

CHLOROGENIC ACID

1. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie
2. International journal of pharmaceutics
3. International journal of environmental health research

Flavonoids

1. Planta medica
2. Scientia pharmaceutica
3. Journal of traditional and complementary medicine

Inuviscolide

1. Journal of traditional and complementary medicine
2. Journal of natural products
3. Biomedicines

quercetin

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Ultrasonics sonochemistry
3. International journal of environmental health research

Caryophyllene oxide

1. Food science & nutrition
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Gallic acid

1. Ultrasonics sonochemistry
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

1,4-Dimethyl-azulene

1. Bollettino della Societa italiana di biologia sperimentale

2-Camphanol acetate

1. Frontiers in pharmacology

3-O-Methylquercetin

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

3-O-acetylpadmatin

1. Journal of natural products

Activities

Dittrichia viscosa has 18 reported activities identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Anticancer, Cytotoxic, Antibacterial, Antimicrobial.

Antioxidant

1. Food science & nutrition
2. Scientific reports
3. Zeitschrift fur Naturforschung. C, Journal of biosciences
4. Journal of traditional and complementary medicine
5. Food research international (Ottawa, Ont.)

Anticancer

1. Scientific reports
2. Journal of traditional and complementary medicine
3. Journal of ethnopharmacology
4. International journal of pharmaceutics

Cytotoxic

1. Journal of traditional and complementary medicine
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology
3. Journal of food and drug analysis

Antibacterial

1. Journal of traditional and complementary medicine
2. Chemistry & biodiversity

Antimicrobial

1. Journal of infection in developing countries
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Antiphlogistic

1. Frontiers in oncology
2. Bollettino della Societa italiana di biologia sperimentale

Antiseptic

1. Frontiers in oncology
2. Bollettino della Societa italiana di biologia sperimentale

Analgesic

1. Journal of traditional and complementary medicine

Anticholinesterase

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

Antidiabetic

1. Food science & nutrition

Medicinal Uses

Dittrichia viscosa has 7 reported medicinal uses identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include cancer, Gastric ulcers, breast cancer, hypertension, poliovirus type 1.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations