curry plant

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• curryplant
• Italian Strawflower

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Gnaphalium italicum

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. Within the order Asterales, it is classified under the family Asteraceae and is specifically identified by the genus Helichrysum.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical distribution across several regions of the European continent. In Northern Europe, its presence can be noted within Great Britain. Moving into Middle Europe, the species is found growing in Germany. The distribution extends significantly into Southwestern Europe, where it inhabits the Baleares. Additionally, this medicinal plant is commonly located throughout France and Corse.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Helichrysum italicum is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist across multiple growing seasons. Structurally, it is classified under the life form of a chamaephyte, a growth habit where the majority of the plant's vegetative shoots are located close to the soil surface, often protected by the ground layer. This chamaphyte classification, consistent across both its primary and secondary life form descriptors, enables the species to thrive in its typical Mediterranean habitats by maintaining a low-growing profile that is resilient to environmental stressors.

Life form :

chamaephyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Helichrysum italicum is characterized by its growth form as a perennial subshrub, which exhibits a distinctively woody structure. As a self-supporting plant, it does not function as a climber and maintains an upright, compact habit. It is a terrestrial species, neither aquatic nor semiaquatic, and it does not function as an epiphyte, growing instead within soil substrates. Furthermore, the plant is an independent organism, lacking any parasitic tendencies toward other vegetation.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

subshrub

Parasite :

independent

Woodiness :

woody

Reproduction

The reproduction of Helichrysum italicum is characterized by the production of numerous small seeds, which play a critical role in its dispersal and colonization of Mediterranean habitats. Quantitative analysis of its reproductive output reveals a highly consistent seed morphology, with the seed mass exhibiting no variance across recorded samples. Specifically, the seed mass is uniform, with a mean, maximum, and minimum value all recorded at exactly 6e-05 g. This precise and lightweight seed mass facilitates efficient distribution, likely aided by wind or gravity, ensuring the successful establishment of new progeny within its ecological niche.

Seed mass mean:

6e-05 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

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

Flower

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Leaf

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Chemicals

Helichrysum italicum has 49 reported phytochemicals identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include CHLOROGENIC ACID, Neryl acetate, Flavonoids, quercetin, Arzanol.

CHLOROGENIC ACID

1. Pharmaceutics
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)
4. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Neryl acetate

1. Frontiers in plant science
2. Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Planta medica
4. Natural product research

Flavonoids

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Journal of ethnopharmacology

quercetin

1. Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Natural product research

Arzanol

1. Pharmaceutics
2. Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)

Hydroxycinnamic Acids

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)

RUTIN

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Natural product research

nerol

1. Frontiers in plant science
2. Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)

rosmarinic acid

1. Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Natural product research

2-METHYL-1-BUTANOL

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

Activities

Helichrysum italicum has 9 reported activities identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Antimicrobial, Antibacterial, Anticarcinogenic, Antiinflammatory.

Antioxidant

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR
2. Pharmaceutics
3. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
4. Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)
5. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Antimicrobial

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR
2. Phytochemistry
3. Foods (Basel, Switzerland)
4. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antibacterial

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)

Anticarcinogenic

1. Foods (Basel, Switzerland)

Antiinflammatory

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Antimutagenic

1. Mutation research

Antiparasitic

1. Foods (Basel, Switzerland)

Antitumor

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Antiviral

1. Foods (Basel, Switzerland)

Medicinal Uses

Helichrysum italicum has 18 reported medicinal uses identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include inflammation, antioxidant, infections, Candida albicans, HIV.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations