European gromwell

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• European gromwell
• European stoneseed
• pearl gromwell
• gromwell

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Margarospermum officinale
• Lithospermum ochroleucum
• Lithospermum officinale var. stewartii

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. It is further categorized under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Boraginales, belonging to the family Boraginaceae. Finally, it is identified by its genus, Lithospermum.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific distribution pattern across the northern regions of the European continent. It can be found growing in the various landscapes of Northern Europe, including the territories of Denmark and Finland. Its presence extends further west to the islands of Great Britain and Ireland. Additionally, the species is documented to inhabit the unique environments of Iceland. Together, these locations define its primary geographical range within the northern reaches of the continent.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Lithospermum officinale is characterized by its ability to inhabit a diverse array of environments, ranging from dense forests and shrubberies to open steppe landscapes and disturbed ruderal sites. This plant exhibits a broad altitudinal distribution, thriving at elevations starting from a minimum of 600 m AMSL up to a maximum of 2500 m AMSL, with a mean elevational range centered around 2700 m AMSL. Its presence across these varied habitats indicates a high degree of ecological plasticity, allowing it to persist in both stable natural ecosystems and human-influenced transitional zones.

Elevational range max:

2500 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

2700 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

600 m AMSL

Habitat :

forest, ruderal sites, shrubberies, steppe

Life history

The life history of Lithospermum officinale is characterized by its nature as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. It adopts a hemicryptophyte life form, meaning its perennuating buds are located at the soil surface, protected by leaf litter or organic debris during unfavorable conditions. Despite its seasonal growth patterns, the species is classified as evergreen in terms of its deciduousness, maintaining a level of vegetative presence throughout its life cycle.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

hemicryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Lithospermum officinale is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and specifically a forb. The plant is a self-supporting, non-climbing species that functions as an independent organism, lacking any parasitic or epiphytic tendencies, as it is strictly terrestrial in its habitat. In terms of stature, it is a relatively low-growing plant with a height that typically ranges from a minimum of 0.3 m to a maximum of 1 m, with an average plant height of approximately 0.5 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

1 m

Plant height mean:

0.5 m

Plant height min:

0.3 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Lithospermum officinale is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, indicating a standard carbon fixation process typical of many temperate herbaceous plants. As a non-carnivorous species, it relies entirely on its root system and soil nutrients for sustenance rather than capturing insects. The plant's foliage exhibits significant morphological variation, with leaf lengths ranging from a minimum of 3 cm to a maximum of 8 cm, maintaining a mean length of 5.5 cm. The leaf width is similarly variable, spanning from a minimum of 0.5 cm to a maximum of 1.5 cm, resulting in a mean width of 1 cm. These dimensions contribute to a mean leaf size of 9.575 cm². Furthermore, the plant possesses a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 218.5 cm²/g, a metric that reflects its leaf mass per area and provides insight into its resource acquisition strategies and leaf thickness.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf length max:

8 cm

Leaf length mean:

5.5 cm

Leaf length min:

3 cm

Leaf size mean:

9.575 cm²

Leaf width max:

1.5 cm

Leaf width mean:

1 cm

Leaf width min:

0.5 cm

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

218.5 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Lithospermum officinale is characterized by a sexual process, as asexual reproduction is notably absent. The flowering period typically begins in May and continues through July. The plant utilizes biotic pollination syndromes, specifically relying on insects, with bees identified as a primary pollinator. While it is capable of self-fertilization, its reproductive cycle relies on these biological interactions to ensure fertilization. Following pollination, the plant produces fruits that maintain a consistent length of approximately 0.3 cm (with a mean, minimum, and maximum all recorded at this value). The resulting seeds are quite small, possessing a mean mass of 0.0122215 g, with a range spanning from a minimum of 0.01197 g to a maximum of 0.01387 g. Dispersal of these seeds occurs via an autochorous syndrome, meaning the plant employs mechanisms for self-dispersal to spread its offspring.

Dispersal syndrome :

autochorous

Flowering time :

May

Flowering time :

Jul

Fruit length max:

0.3 cm

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

bee

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Seed mass max:

0.01387 g

Seed mass mean:

0.0122215 g

Seed mass min:

0.01197 g

Self fertilization :

present

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Lithospermum officinale has 3 reported plant parts identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include root, leaf, stem.

Root

1. Applied biochemistry and biotechnology
2. Planta medica
3. Current pharmaceutical biotechnology

Leaf

1. Planta medica

Stem

1. Planta medica

Chemicals

Lithospermum officinale has 9 reported phytochemicals identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoids, rosmarinic acid, Glucosides, Luteolin 7-beta-glucoside, Naphthoquinones.

Flavonoids

1. Doklady biological sciences : proceedings of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR, Biological sciences sections
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

rosmarinic acid

1. Applied biochemistry and biotechnology
2. Hormone and metabolic research = Hormon- und Stoffwechselforschung = Hormones et metabolisme

Glucosides

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Luteolin 7-beta-glucoside

1. Hormone and metabolic research = Hormon- und Stoffwechselforschung = Hormones et metabolisme

Naphthoquinones

1. Frontiers in plant science

RSA

1. Current pharmaceutical biotechnology

RUTIN

1. Doklady biological sciences : proceedings of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR, Biological sciences sections

ellagic acid

1. Hormone and metabolic research = Hormon- und Stoffwechselforschung = Hormones et metabolisme

shikonin

1. Planta medica

Activities

Lithospermum officinale has 2 reported activities identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antimicrobial, Antioxidant.

Antimicrobial

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Current pharmaceutical biotechnology

Antioxidant

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Current pharmaceutical biotechnology

Medicinal Uses

Lithospermum officinale has 5 reported medicinal uses identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include antioxidant, hyperthyroidism, neuroinflammation, tumor, wound healing.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations