Eriodictyon californicum
Eriodictyon californicum, commonly known as Alkali Buckwheat, is a resilient perennial shrub native to the arid landscapes of the American Southwest. Renowned for its ability to thrive in saline soils, this hardy plant offers significant ethnobotanical value, historically utilized by indigenous cultures for its diverse medicinal properties and healing potential.
- Scientific name: Eriodictyon californicum
- Family: Boraginaceae
- Native range: Northern America
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. It is further classified under the subclass Magnoliidae, the order Boraginales, and the family Boraginaceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Eriodictyon.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Boraginales | WCVP |
| Family | Boraginaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Eriodictyon | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known scientifically as Eriodictyon californicum, is recognized by various regional and linguistic names. In Chinese, it is referred to as 北美聖草 (běiměi shèngcǎo), while in French, it is commonly called Yerba Santa.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| zh | 北美聖草 | Wikidata |
| fr | Yerba Santa | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a specific range within the western regions of the United States. Its geographical distribution is primarily concentrated in the Northwestern United States, specifically within the state of Oregon. Additionally, it can be found extensively throughout the Southwestern United States. Within this southwestern region, the plant is most commonly located in California. Together, these areas define the natural habitat where this medicinal species thrives.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Northwestern U.S.A. | Oregon | WCVP |
| Southwestern U.S.A. | California | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, commonly known as bush poppy, utilizes its leaves as a key component of its biological structure. The leaves of Eriodictyon californicum are typically small, leathery, and narrow, often appearing in a dense, spreading fashion along the woody stems. In the context of medicinal study, these leaves are significant due to their chemical composition, which contributes to the plant's overall pharmacological profile.- Total parts
- 2
- Scientific sources
- 2
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| leaves | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Leaves | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Eriodictyon californicum has 23 reported phytochemicals identified across 31 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include eriodictyol, homoeriodictyol, chrysoeriol, hesperetin, sakuranetin.
- Total chemicals
- 23
- Scientific sources
- 31
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| eriodictyol | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| homoeriodictyol | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| chrysoeriol | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| hesperetin | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| sakuranetin | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| sterubin | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 1,8-cineole | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 4'-isobutyrylhomoeriodictyol | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 5,4'-dihydroxy-6,7-dimethoxyflavanone | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 6-methoxyhesperetin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Eriodictyon californicum has 2 reported activities identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Astringent, Bitter.
- Total activities
- 2
- Scientific sources
- 2
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Astringent | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Bitter | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Eriodictyon californicum has 1 reported medicinal uses identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include cancer.
- Total uses
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| cancer | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |