goldilocks

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• goldilocks
• Shrubby Everlasting
• Common shrubby everlasting

Scientific Names

Accepted name

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. It is specifically identified by the genus Helichrysum, which includes the species Helichrysum stoechas.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical distribution across several European regions. In Middle Europe, its presence can be noted within Germany. Moving toward the Mediterranean, it is found throughout various parts of Southwestern Europe. Specifically, its range includes the Baleares, Corse, and France. Additionally, the species extends its reach further west to include Portugal.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Helichrysum stoechas is characterized by its classification as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. In terms of its structural growth and survival strategy, it is categorized as a chamaephyte, a life form where the majority of the plant's photosynthetic organs are located close to the soil surface, often protected by the ground layer. This chamemphyte habit enables the species to withstand various environmental conditions by maintaining its buds just above the substrate, facilitating its long-term survival and continuous presence within its ecological niche.

Life form :

chamaephyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Helichrysum stoechas is characterized by a growth form that transitions between a shrub and a subshrub, exhibiting a primarily woody structure. As a terrestrial plant, it does not inhabit aquatic or semiaquatic environments, nor does it function as an epiphyte. The species is strictly self-supporting, lacking any climbing, vine, or liana characteristics, and it maintains an independent life cycle without behaving as a parasite.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Growth form :

subshrub

Parasite :

independent

Woodiness :

woody

Reproduction

Reproduction in Helichrysum stoechas occurs through the production of small, specialized flowers clustered in dense, terminal capitula, which facilitate pollination via insect vectors. Following successful fertilization, the plant develops fruit that is characterized by a distinct morphology; specifically, the fruit exhibits a dry texture, contrasting with the fleshy types found in other taxa. These dry fruits are typically small achenes that are dispersed through various environmental mechanisms, often aided by the persistent, papery involucral bracts that protect the developing seeds. The transition from a flowering stage to a mature seed stage ensures that the progeny are encased in a desiccated, non-succulent structure, which is an essential adaptation for efficient seed dispersal and survival in its natural habitat.

Fruit dryness :

dry

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Helichrysum stoechas has 4 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Homoarenol, Italipyrone, TNF alpha, helipyrone.

Homoarenol

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Italipyrone

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

TNF alpha

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

helipyrone

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Activities

Helichrysum stoechas has 2 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Antithrombotic.

Antioxidant

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Antithrombotic

1. Journal of thrombosis and thrombolysis

Conditions

Helichrysum stoechas has 4 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include TNF-alpha, anxiety disorders, blood clot, inflammation.

Tnf-alpha

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Anxiety disorders

1. Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)

Blood clot

1. Journal of thrombosis and thrombolysis

Inflammation

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Preparations

Helichrysum stoechas has 3 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include EOs, dicholoromethane extract of the aerial parts, hydroethanolic extracts.

Eos

1. Letters in applied microbiology

Dicholoromethane extract of the aerial parts

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Hydroethanolic extracts

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)