Dracocephalum tanguticum
Dracocephalum tangutium, commonly known as Tangut dragonhead, is a resilient perennial herb native to the high-altitude regions of East Asia. Renowned for its striking blue flowers, this medicinal plant is valued in traditional practices for its diverse therapeutic properties, particularly in supporting respiratory health and reducing inflammation.
- Scientific name: Dracocephalum tanguticum
- Family: Lamiaceae
- Native range: Asia-Temperate
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. It further falls under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Lamiales, residing within the family Lamiaceae. Ultimately, its specific taxonomic placement is defined by the genus Dracocephalum.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Lamiales | WCVP |
| Family | Lamiaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Dracocephalum | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, Dracocephalum tangutium, is known by several distinct common names depending on the regional linguistic context. In Chinese, it is frequently referred to by the names 甘青青兰, 甘青青兰, and 甘青青兰, which are used across various Chinese language codes including zh, zh-hans, and zh-cn. Additionally, it is identified in certain contexts as 陇塞青兰 and is also known as 则羊古.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| zh | 甘青青兰 | Wikidata |
| zh-hans | 甘青青兰 | Wikidata |
| zh-cn | 甘青青兰 | Wikidata |
| zh | 陇塞青兰 | Wikidata |
| zh | 则羊古 | Wikidata |
| zh | 唐古特青兰 | Wikidata |
| zh | 唐古特青兰苗 | Wikidata |
| zh | 甘青青蓝 | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a broad geographical distribution across several distinct mountainous and high-altitude regions. Within China, it can be found spanning from the South-Central provinces to the North-Central areas. Its presence is also well-documented in the high-elevation terrains of Qinghai. Furthermore, the species thrives within the unique environmental conditions of Tibet. Finally, its range extends into the Indian Subcontinent, specifically within the East Himalaya region.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| China | China South-Central | WCVP |
| China | China North-Central | WCVP |
| China | Qinghai | WCVP |
| China | Tibet | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | East Himalaya | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | Nepal | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | West Himalaya | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, Dracocephalum tangutium, is a perennial herb whose medicinal properties are primarily derived from the use of the whole plants. When harvested, the entire structure—including the aromatic leaves, square stems, and flowering spikes—is typically collected to ensure a complete profile of its bioactive compounds. The whole plant is often dried and used in traditional herbal practices, as the synergy between the various parts is believed to enhance its therapeutic efficacy.- Total parts
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| whole plants | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Dracocephalum tanguticum has 7 reported phytochemicals identified across 8 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include rosmarinic acid, betulin, betulinic acid, cosmosiin, oleanolic acid.
- Total chemicals
- 7
- Scientific sources
- 8
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| rosmarinic acid | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| betulin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| betulinic acid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| cosmosiin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| oleanolic acid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| p-hydroxybenzoic acid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| ursolic acid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |