Helichrysum plicatum

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Sources: Wikidata

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. Finally, it is identified by the genus Helichrysum, specifically as the species Helichrysum plicatum.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is widely distributed across several specific regions within Southeastern Europe. It can be found growing in the territories of Albania, Bulgaria, and Greece. Furthermore, its presence extends throughout the Northwestern Balkan Peninsula. The species also reaches into the Caucasus region, specifically within the Transcaucasus area. These diverse locations highlight the plant's broad geographical range across these mountainous and coastal landscapes.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Helichrysum plicatum is characterized by its ability to thrive across diverse and often rugged terrains, ranging from forest edges and mountains to open steppes and stony places. This plant is specifically adapted to montane environments, occupying an elevational range that spans from a minimum of 1300 m AMSL to a maximum of 2600 m AMSL. Its presence in such varied habitats, including rocky substrates and transitional zones between forests and grasslands, suggests a high degree of resilience to different soil compositions and varying levels of solar exposure typical of high-altitude ecosystems.

Elevational range max:

2600 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

1300 m AMSL

Habitat :

forest edges, mountains, steppe, stony places

Life history

The life history of Helichrysum plicatum is characterized by its status as a perennial species, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons rather than completing its cycle in a single year. In terms of its structural growth and survival strategy, the plant adopts a chamaephyte life form, meaning its perennating buds are located close to or just above the soil surface, which typically aids in resilience against environmental stressors. This combination of a long-lived lifecycle and a low-growing, bud-protected stature defines its ecological presence and developmental continuity within its natural habitat.

Life form :

chamaephyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Helichrysum plicatum is characterized by a growth form classified as a subshrub or herb, exhibiting a non-woody structure throughout its development. This species typically reaches a plant height ranging from a minimum of 0.1 m to a maximum of 0.55 m. Regarding its ecological habitat and moisture preference, the plant is identified as terrestrial, though it can exist within the spectrum of aquatic and semiaquatic environments.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

subshrub

Plant height max:

0.55 m

Plant height min:

0.1 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Reproduction

The reproduction of Helichrysum plicatum is characterized by a specific seasonal flowering period and the production of highly uniform, minute seeds. The plant enters its flowering phase in June and continues through to August, though the exact timing can remain variable depending on environmental conditions. During this reproductive cycle, the plant produces seeds with extremely consistent physical properties; the seed mass is remarkably stable, with a mean, maximum, and minimum value all recorded at 0.00035 g. This lack of variance in seed mass suggests a highly standardized seed development process within the species.

Flowering time :

Jun

Flowering time :

Aug

Seed mass mean:

0.00035 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Helichrysum plicatum has 1 reported plant parts identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include flower.

Flower

1. Journal of ethnobiology and ethnomedicine
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Pharmaceutics
4. Natural product communications

Chemicals

Helichrysum plicatum has 6 reported phytochemicals identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Neryl acetate, apigenin, kaempferol, naringenin, polyphenols.

Neryl acetate

1. Foods (Basel, Switzerland)

apigenin

1. Natural product communications

kaempferol

1. Natural product communications

naringenin

1. Natural product communications

polyphenols

1. Pharmaceutics

quercetin

1. Natural product communications

Activities

Helichrysum plicatum has 2 reported activities identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antibacterial, Antimicrobial.

Antibacterial

1. Foods (Basel, Switzerland)

Antimicrobial

1. Foods (Basel, Switzerland)

Medicinal Uses

Helichrysum plicatum has 2 reported medicinal uses identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include Escherichia coli, Listeria monocytogenes.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations