Heracleum rapula
Heracleum rapula, commonly known as hogweed, is a perennial herb belonging to the Apiaceae family. While often regarded as a weed, it holds historical significance in traditional medicine. It is characterized by large, umbelliferous flower clusters and deeply lobed leaves, requiring careful identification to avoid toxic look-alikes.
- Scientific name: Heracleum rapula
- Family: Apiaceae
- Native range: Asia-Temperate
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. As a member of the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Apiales, it is classified under the family Apiaceae. It is specifically identified by the genus Heracleum, where it is known as Heracleum rapula.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Apiales | WCVP |
| Family | Apiaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Heracleum | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known scientifically as Heracleum rapula, is referred to by several different common names in Chinese depending on the specific part or variety being discussed. It is commonly called 鹤庆独活 (Hèqìng dúhuó) and is also known as 白云花 (Báiyúnhuā). Furthermore, it can be identified as 鹤庆独活（白云花） (Hèqìng dúhuó (Báiyúnhuā)) to combine these identifiers, while the specific root component is referred to as 白云花根 (Báiyúnhuā gēn).| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| zh | 鹤庆独活 | Wikidata |
| zh | 白云花 | Wikidata |
| zh | 鹤庆独活（白云花） | Wikidata |
| zh | 白云花根 | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant, known as Heracleum rapula, exhibits a specific and localized geographical distribution. Within the vast landscape of Asia, its presence is documented in the region of China. More precisely, it can be found inhabiting the South-Central part of the country. This particular area provides the specific environmental conditions necessary for its growth. Consequently, the plant's known natural range is currently concentrated within these specific Chinese territories.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| China | China South-Central | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, commonly known as hogweed, possesses various morphological features, but its roots are of particular interest in botanical studies. The roots of Heracleum rapula typically consist of a thick, fleshy taproot that serves as a vital storage organ for nutrients, allowing the plant to persist through different growth stages. While the entire plant contains furanocoumarins that can cause photosensitivity, the structural integrity and underground presence of the roots are essential to the plant's life cycle and its identification in the wild.- Total parts
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| roots | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Heracleum rapula has 19 reported phytochemicals identified across 19 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include (+)-marmesin, 8-geranyloxypsoralen, 8-hydroxy-5-O-beta-D-glucosylpsoralen, bergapten, beta-sitosterol.
- Total chemicals
- 19
- Scientific sources
- 19
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| (+)-marmesin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 8-geranyloxypsoralen | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 8-hydroxy-5-O-beta-D-glucosylpsoralen | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| bergapten | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| beta-sitosterol | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| cnidilin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| coumarin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| imperatorin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| isoimperatorin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| isopimpinellin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |