Herniaria fontanesii
Herniaria fontanesii, commonly known as Fontane's Herniaria, is a resilient herbaceous plant belonging to the Molluginaceae family. Often found in disturbed soils, it is valued in traditional medicine for its unique bioactive compounds. This plant offers intriguing therapeutic potential, particularly in supporting digestive health and managing various inflammatory conditions.
- Scientific name: Herniaria fontanesii
- Family: Caryophyllaceae
- Native range: Europe
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Caryophyllales, it is classified under the family Caryophyllaceae. Finally, its specific taxonomic designation is within the genus Herniaria.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Caryophyllales | WCVP |
| Family | Caryophyllaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Herniaria | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, Herniaria fontanesii, is known by various regional names depending on the linguistic context. In English, it is commonly referred to as fontanesi's knawel, while in Portuguese, it is identified as erva-de-hernia.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|
Distribution
This plant exhibits a diverse geographical distribution spanning across several different regions. In Southwestern Europe, it can be found growing within the country of Spain. Its presence extends into Southeastern Europe, specifically localized in Sicilia. Furthermore, the species is well-established across Northern Africa in Algeria. Finally, its range continues through the North African territories of Libya and Egypt.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Southwestern Europe | Spain | WCVP |
| Southeastern Europe | Sicilia | WCVP |
| Northern Africa | Algeria | WCVP |
| Northern Africa | Egypt | WCVP |
| Northern Africa | Libya | WCVP |
| Northern Africa | Morocco | WCVP |
| Northern Africa | Tunisia | WCVP |
| Northern Africa | Western Sahara | WCVP |
| Macaronesia | Canary Is. | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Mauritania | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, Herniaria fontanesii, is primarily utilized in medicinal applications through its aerial parts. These above-ground structures, which include the stems and leaves, are collected to harness the plant's bioactive properties. Because the aerial parts contain the concentrated secondary metabolites necessary for therapeutic use, they are the specific components harvested for preparation and study.- Total parts
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 2
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| aerial parts | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Herniaria fontanesii has 4 reported phytochemicals identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include carotenoids, condensed tannins, flavonoids, polyphenols.
- Total chemicals
- 4
- Scientific sources
- 4
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| carotenoids | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| condensed tannins | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| flavonoids | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| polyphenols | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |