large scabious

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• elecampane
• horseheal
• scabwort
• velvet-dock

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Aster helenium
• Corvisartia helenium

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta within the class Equisetopsida. As a member of the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Asterales, it is further categorized into the family Asteraceae. Finally, it is identified by its specific genus, Inula.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant, known as Inula helenium, exhibits a specific geographical distribution across several parts of Northern Europe. It can be found growing in the coastal and inland regions of Denmark. The species also inhabits the diverse landscapes of Finland. Furthermore, its presence extends to the islands of Great Britain and Ireland. Finally, the plant is naturally distributed within the territories of Norway.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Inula helenium is characterized by a diverse range of environmental settings, allowing it to thrive in varied landscapes such as forests, meadows, mountains, rivers, shrubberies, and steppes. This adaptability enables the species to colonize multiple ecological niches, ranging from moist riparian zones near rivers to the more open and exposed conditions found in steppes and mountainous terrain. The plant exhibits a significant altitudinal distribution, occupying an elevational range that begins at 570 m AMSL and extends up to a maximum of 2000 m AMSL. This broad vertical range suggests a high tolerance for different temperature gradients and atmospheric pressures, facilitating its presence across various montane and sub-montane ecosystems.

Elevational range max:

2000 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

570 m AMSL

Habitat :

forest, meadows, mountains, rivers, shrubberies, steppe

Life history

The life history of Inula helenium is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. As a hemicryptophyte, its perennating buds are located at the soil surface, protected by leaf litter or organic matter during unfavorable conditions. The plant exhibits a deciduous nature, shedding its foliage during periods of dormancy to conserve energy and moisture.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

hemicryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Inula helenium is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb, specifically classified as a forb. It is a self-supporting plant that does not function as a climber or a vine, nor does it act as an epiphyte or a parasite, maintaining an independent terrestrial existence. In terms of stature, the plant exhibits significant variability in height, ranging from a minimum of 0.6 m to a maximum of 2.5 m, with an average plant height of approximately 1.35 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

2.5 m

Plant height mean:

1.35 m

Plant height min:

0.6 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Inula helenium is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, a common metabolic strategy for temperate herbaceous plants that optimizes carbon fixation under moderate environmental conditions. The plant exhibits a non-carnivorous nutritional strategy and does not function as a nitrogen fixer, relying instead on soil nutrient availability. Its leaf morphology plays a critical role in its physiological performance, with leaves displaying a mean length of 25 cm (ranging from a minimum of 15 cm to a maximum of 60 cm) and a mean width of 20 cm (ranging from 10 cm to 25 cm), resulting in a mean leaf size of 325.0125 cm². Furthermore, the plant maintains a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 151.73 cm²/g, a metric that reflects its leaf density and resource allocation strategy regarding light interception and water-use efficiency.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf length max:

60 cm

Leaf length mean:

25 cm

Leaf length min:

15 cm

Leaf size mean:

325.0125 cm²

Leaf width max:

25 cm

Leaf width mean:

20 cm

Leaf width min:

10 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

151.73 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Inula helenium is driven by a biotic pollination syndrome, primarily relying on insects such as bees to facilitate the transfer of pollen. The flowering period for this species typically occurs during the summer months, beginning in July and concluding in August. Within its reproductive cycle, self-fertilization is present, ensuring seed production even under varying environmental conditions. The plant produces small, indehiscent fruits classified as achenes, which typically range in length from a minimum of 0.3 cm to a maximum of 0.4 cm, with a mean length of 0.35 cm. These fruits contain seeds that possess a consistent mean length of 4.25 mm (with minimum and maximum values also recorded at 4.25 mm) and a mean mass of approximately 0.0013431665 g, ranging from a minimum of 0.00066 g to a maximum of 0.001187 g. Following maturation, the seeds utilize an anemochorous dispersal syndrome, meaning they are dispersed by the wind. Notably, asexual reproduction is absent in this species, making sexual reproduction through pollination and seed dispersal the primary method for its propagation.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Flowering time :

Jul

Flowering time :

Aug

Fruit length max:

0.4 cm

Fruit length mean:

0.35 cm

Fruit length min:

0.3 cm

Fruit type :

achene

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

bee

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Seed length mean:

4.25 mm

Seed mass max:

0.001187 g

Seed mass mean:

0.0013431665 g

Seed mass min:

0.00066 g

Self fertilization :

present

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Inula helenium has 1 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 root.

Root

1. Bioorganic chemistry
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Chemicals

Inula helenium has 70 reported phytochemicals identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Alantolactone, Isoalantolactone, helenin, (-)-Inositol, 1beta-Hydroxyalantolactone.

Alantolactone

1. Dr. Duke
2. TheScientificWorldJournal
3. Archiv der Pharmazie
4. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Isoalantolactone

1. Dr. Duke
2. TheScientificWorldJournal
3. Frontiers in cell and developmental biology

helenin

1. Dr. Duke
2. Phytotherapy research : PTR

(-)-Inositol

1. Dr. Duke

1beta-Hydroxyalantolactone

1. Dr. Duke

2-OXOALANTOLACTONE

1. Dr. Duke

3-Methylquercetin

1. Dr. Duke

4-Epiisoinuviscolide

1. Dr. Duke

4H-Tomentosin

1. Dr. Duke

4alpha-H-Confertin

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Inula helenium has 489 reported activities identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Anticancer, Antimicrobial, Anthelmintic, Antitumor, 11B-HSD-Inhibitor.

Anticancer

1. Dr. Duke
2. TheScientificWorldJournal
3. Archiv der Pharmazie

Antimicrobial

1. TheScientificWorldJournal
2. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM
3. British journal of biomedical science

Anthelmintic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Experimental parasitology

Antitumor

1. Dr. Duke
2. Frontiers in cell and developmental biology

11B-HSD-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

5-Lipoxygenase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

ACE-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

AP-1-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

ATPase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Acidulant

1. Dr. Duke

Medicinal Uses

Inula helenium has 14 reported medicinal uses identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include cancer, Cancer, Clonorchis sinensis, Staphylococcus aureus, acne.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations