Kooigoed Everlasting

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Kooigoed Everlasting
• Everlasting

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Gnaphalium odoratissimum
• Achyrocline hochstetteri
• Gnaphalium strigosum
• Gnaphalium undulifolium
• Helichrysum engleri
• Helichrysum rosmarinum
• Gnaphalium aureofulvum
• Helichrysum butaguense
• Helichrysum roulingi

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. Following its placement in the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Asterales, it is a member of the family Asteraceae. Ultimately, it is categorized under the genus Helichrysum as Helichrysum odoratisissimum.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad geographical distribution that spans across multiple continents and diverse climates. In Northern Europe, its presence is specifically noted within Great Britain. The species also thrives in West Tropical Africa, with documented occurrences in Nigeria. Moving into West-Central Tropical Africa, it can be found in Cameroon, the Gulf of Guinea Islands, and the DR Congo. Together, these locations highlight the wide range of environments where the plant is naturally situated.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Helichrysum odoratissimum is characterized by its remarkable adaptability to diverse altitudinal gradients, allowing it to colonize a vast range of landscapes. This species thrives across a significant vertical span, with its distribution extending from low-lying areas as low as 5 m AMSL to high-altitude environments reaching up to a maximum of 3050 m AMSL. This broad elevational range suggests that the plant is capable of enduring various climatic conditions, from warmer, more humid lowland habitats to the cooler, more intense ultraviolet environments found in montane regions. Such ecological plasticity enables it to occupy diverse niches within its native range, likely interacting with a wide variety of soil types and microclimates found throughout these varying elevations.

Elevational range max:

3050 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

5 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Helichrysum odoratissimum is characterized by its classification as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. In terms of its growth architecture and survival strategy, it functions as a therophyte, completing its reproductive cycle through seeds and existing primarily as ephemeral vegetation that may rely on seasonal germination or dormant stages. This life form dictates its ability to thrive in specific ecological niches, utilizing its annual growth cycles to maximize reproductive success within its habitat.

Life form :

therophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Helichrysum odoratissimum is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb, typically presenting as a self-supporting plant. It exhibits a terrestrial lifestyle, functioning as an independent organism rather than a parasite or an epiphyte. In terms of stature, the plant displays significant variability in its dimensions, with a minimum height of 0.2 m and reaching a maximum height of up to 1.75 m. Its physical structure is defined by a non-woodiness, maintaining a herbaceous habit across its various stages of development.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

1.75 m

Plant height min:

0.2 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Reproduction

The reproduction of Helichrysum odoratissimum is characterized by the production of highly uniform seeds, with a mean, maximum, and minimum seed mass all recorded at $7 \times 10^{-5}$ g. This consistency in seed size suggests a specialized reproductive strategy aimed at optimizing seedling establishment. Regarding its dispersal mechanism, the plant exhibits an anemochorous syndrome, meaning its seeds are primarily dispersed by wind. This anemochorous trait allows the plant to utilize air currents to transport its progeny away from the parent plant, facilitating colonization of new habitats.

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Seed mass mean:

7e-05 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Helichrysum odoratissimum 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 natural products

Leaf

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Chemicals

Helichrysum odoratissimum has 8 reported phytochemicals identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include 3',4',5,7-Tetrahydroxy-3-methoxyflavone, 5,6-dihydroxy-3,7,8-trimethoxyflavone, 5,7-Dihydroxy-3-methoxyflavone, Flavonoids, Flavonol.

3',4',5,7-Tetrahydroxy-3-methoxyflavone

1. Natural product communications

5,6-dihydroxy-3,7,8-trimethoxyflavone

1. Natural product communications

5,7-Dihydroxy-3-methoxyflavone

1. Natural product communications

Flavonoids

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Flavonol

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Monoterpenes

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Sesquiterpenes

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Terpenes

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Activities

Helichrysum odoratissimum has 6 reported activities identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Antibacterial, Antidiabetic, Antiinflammatory, Antimicrobial.

Antioxidant

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

Antibacterial

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Antidiabetic

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Antiinflammatory

1. Natural product communications

Antimicrobial

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Antiproliferative

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Medicinal Uses

Helichrysum odoratissimum has 10 reported medicinal uses identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include abdominal pains, antioxidant, coughs, dental caries, eczema.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations