sandy everlasting

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• sandy everlasting
• yellow chasteweed
• yellow everlasting daisy

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Cyttarium arenarium

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. Under the subclass Magnoliidae, it follows the order Asterales and is a member of the Asteraceae family. Finally, it is specifically identified by its genus, Helichrysum.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad presence across several regions in Europe. In Northern Europe, its range extends through Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. Moving toward the center of the continent, the species is also documented in Middle Europe. Specifically, it can be found growing within the borders of Austria. Additionally, its distribution reaches further west into Belgium.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Helichrysum arenarium is characterized by its remarkable adaptability to diverse and often challenging environments, ranging from coastal dunes and sandy terrains to more stable landscapes such as forests, hills, meadows, and steppes. This species demonstrates a high degree of ecological plasticity, colonizing varied niches including mountains, stony places, semi-deserts, and even saline environments. Its altitudinal distribution is significant, spanning a broad vertical gradient that begins at a minimum elevation of 900 m AMSL and reaches a maximum of 2400 m AMSL, with a mean elevational range centered around 1650 m AMSL. This wide distribution across different substrates and elevations allows the plant to thrive in both moisture-variable sandy habitats and more rugged, high-altitude mountainous regions.

Elevational range max:

2400 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

1650 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

900 m AMSL

Habitat :

dunes, forest, hills, meadows, mountains, saline places, sand, semidesert, steppe, stony places

Life history

The life history of Helichrysum arenarium is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, ensuring its presence in the ecosystem over multiple growing seasons. As a hemicryptophyte, its perennimal buds are located at or just below the soil surface, protected by leaf litter or soil during unfavorable conditions. This life form allows the species to maintain stability within its habitat. Furthermore, the plant exhibits an evergreen deciduousness, maintaining its foliage throughout the year to facilitate continuous physiological processes.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

hemicryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Helichrysum arenarium is characterized by a woody growth form, specifically classified as a herb. This plant is a self-supporting organism that does not function as a climber or a parasite, maintaining an independent lifestyle. It is a terrestrial species, neither aquatic nor epiphytic, establishing itself firmly in the soil. In terms of stature, the plant is relatively low-growing, with a height that typically reaches a mean of 0.2 m, though individual specimens may range from a minimum of 0.07 m to a maximum of 0.6 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

0.6 m

Plant height mean:

0.2 m

Plant height min:

0.07 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Helichrysum arenarium is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, a common metabolic strategy for carbon fixation in many temperate and subtropical species. The plant exhibits non-carnivorous nutritional habits, relying on standard soil-based nutrient uptake rather than the capture of prey. Morphologically, its foliage is defined by a mean leaf size of 4.045 cm², which contributes to its specific physiological profile. Furthermore, the plant maintains a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 180.7 cm²/g, a metric that reflects its leaf mass per area and provides insight into its resource allocation and adaptive capacity to its environment.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf size mean:

4.045 cm²

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

180.7 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Helichrysum arenarium is primarily sexual, characterized by bisexual flowers that facilitate the reproductive process. The flowering period typically commences in July and continues through October. Pollination is achieved through a biotic syndrome, specifically relying on insects to facilitate the transfer of pollen. Regarding the plant's reproductive success, self-fertilization is present, allowing for various mating strategies. The fruit produced is an achene, which is indehiscent in nature. The seeds generated during this process are quite small, with a mean mass of 8.95e-05 g, ranging from a minimum of 7.65e-05 g to a maximum of 0.00014 g. For the spreading of offspring, the species utilizes an anemochorous dispersal syndrome, meaning the seeds are dispersed by wind. Notably, asexual reproduction is absent in this species, making sexual reproduction the sole method for propagation.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Flowering time :

Jul

Flowering time :

Oct

Fruit type :

achene

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Reproduction sexual :

bisexual

Seed mass max:

0.00014 g

Seed mass mean:

8.95e-05 g

Seed mass min:

7.65e-05 g

Self fertilization :

present

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Helichrysum arenarium has 1 reported plant parts identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include flower.

Flower

1. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin

Chemicals

Helichrysum arenarium has 10 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoids, Apigenin 7-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside, Everlastoside L, Flavonoid, Naringenin 7-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside.

Flavonoids

1. Frontiers in plant science
2. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)
3. European journal of drug metabolism and pharmacokinetics

Apigenin 7-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside

1. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin

Everlastoside L

1. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin

Flavonoid

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Naringenin 7-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside

1. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin

Polyphenol

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

apigenin-7-O-gentiobioside

1. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin

luteolin

1. Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)

naringenin

1. Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)

quercitrin

1. Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)

Activities

Helichrysum arenarium has 6 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Choleretic, Hepatoprotective, Anticancer, Cholagogue.

Antioxidant

1. Scientific reports
2. Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Journal of ethnopharmacology
4. European journal of drug metabolism and pharmacokinetics

Choleretic

1. Frontiers in plant science
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology
3. European journal of drug metabolism and pharmacokinetics

Hepatoprotective

1. Frontiers in plant science
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology
3. European journal of drug metabolism and pharmacokinetics

Anticancer

1. Scientific reports
2. Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)

Cholagogue

1. Frontiers in plant science
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antimicrobial

1. European journal of drug metabolism and pharmacokinetics

Medicinal Uses

Helichrysum arenarium has 7 reported medicinal uses identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include Bladder Cancer, Breast Cancer, Glioblastoma, diuretic effect, gallbladder disease.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations