love-in-a-mist

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Damascus hellebore
• devil-in-the-bush
• love-in-a-mist
• jack-in-the-green
• wild fennel
• devil in the bush
• love in a mist

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Nigella damascena subsp. minor
• Melanthium damascenum
• Erobathos damascenum
• Nigella damascena var. coarctata
• Nigella multifida
• Nigella pygmaea
• Erobathos coarctatum
• Nigella damascena var. africana
• Nigella taurica
• Nigella damascena var. minor
• Nigella damascena var. oligogyna
• Nigella coerulea
• Nigella bithynica
• Nigella elegans
• Nigella coarctata
• Nigella bourgaei
• Nigella nana

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, Nigella damascena, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. It is classified under the class Equisetopsida and the subclass Magnoliidae within the order Ranunculales. Finally, it is a member of the family Ranunculaceae and the genus Nigella.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific distribution pattern across several northern regions of Europe. In the northernmost reaches of the continent, it can be found growing in Finland. Its presence extends further west into the coastal landscapes of Norway. The species is also well-documented throughout the British Isles, specifically in Great Britain and Ireland. Additionally, the plant maintains a notable presence in Denmark.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Nigella damascena is characterized by its presence in lowland habitats, where it occupies a specific vertical niche within its environment. The species exhibits a broad altitudinal distribution, with an elevational range that begins at a minimum of 1000 m AMSL and extends to a maximum of 2000 m AMSL. Across its known ecological range, the plant maintains a mean elevation of 2600 m AMSL, reflecting its adaptation to these varying topographic gradients.

Elevational range max:

2000 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

2600 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

1000 m AMSL

Habitat :

Lowland

Life history

The life history of Nigella damascena is characterized by its classification as an annual plant, completing its entire developmental cycle from germination to seed production within a single growing season. As a therophyte, it avoids unfavorable environmental conditions by surviving primarily in the form of seeds, which remain dormant in the soil until conditions are optimal for growth. This life strategy is consistent with its status as a therophyte, allowing the plant to rapidly exploit seasonal resources to reach maturity, flower, and distribute offspring before the onset of adverse seasonal shifts.

Life form :

therophyte

Lifecycle :

annual

Morphology

The morphology of Nigella damascena is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb, specifically classified as a forb. This plant is a terrestrial species that grows independently, lacking any parasitic or epiphytic tendencies. Structurally, it is a self-supporting plant with an erect shoot orientation, meaning it does not require external support such as vines or lianas to maintain its posture. In terms of stature, the plant exhibits a variable height, typically ranging from a minimum of 0.15 m to a maximum of 0.75 m, with an average plant height of approximately 0.369 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

0.75 m

Plant height mean:

0.369 m

Plant height min:

0.15 m

Shoot orientation :

erect

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Nigella damascena is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, a standard metabolic process for most temperate species that involves the direct fixation of carbon dioxide via the enzyme RuBisCO. The plant is strictly non-carnivorous, relying entirely on its root system and soil nutrients for mineral acquisition rather than trapping prey. Its foliage is morphologically defined by a linear leaf form, with individual leaf lengths ranging from a minimum of 3 cm to a maximum of 8 cm. On average, the leaves exhibit a mean surface area of 23.61 cm², while the Specific Leaf Area (SLA) maintains a mean value of 297.4 cm²/g, reflecting the plant's efficiency in balancing leaf thickness with surface area for light interception and gas exchange.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf form :

linear

Leaf length max:

8 cm

Leaf length min:

3 cm

Leaf size mean:

23.61 cm²

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

297.4 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Nigella damascena is characterized by sexual processes, as asexual reproduction is absent and the flowers are bisexual in nature. The flowering period typically begins in June and extends through August, featuring flowers that range in width from 1.5 cm to 3 cm and exhibit a blue color. The plant utilizes a biotic pollination syndrome, specifically relying on insects such as bees to facilitate fertilization, while self-fertilization is noted as absent. Following successful pollination, the plant develops a dehiscent capsule as its fruit type. These capsules typically have a mean length of 2.15 cm (ranging from 2 to 2 cm) and a mean width of 1.5 cm (up to a maximum of 2 cm). Each fruit is highly productive, containing between 101 and 1000 seeds. The seeds themselves are uniform in length at approximately 2 mm, with a mean mass of 0.00216190466666667 g (varying from a minimum of 0.00106 g to a maximum of 0.00316 g). Seed dispersal is characterized by both unspecialized and anthropochorous syndromes, ensuring the distribution of the next generation.

Dehiscence :

dehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

unspecialized

Dispersal syndrome :

anthropochorous

Flower colour :

blue

Flower width max:

3 cm

Flower width min:

1.5 cm

Flowering time :

Jun

Flowering time :

Aug

Fruit length max:

2 cm

Fruit length mean:

2.15 cm

Fruit type :

capsule

Fruit width max:

2 cm

Fruit width mean:

1.5 cm

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

bee

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Reproduction sexual :

bisexual

Seed length mean:

2 mm

Seed mass max:

0.00316 g

Seed mass mean:

0.00216190466666667 g

Seed mass min:

0.00106 g

Seeds_per_fruit :

101-1000

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Nigella damascena has 1 reported plant parts identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include seed.

Seed

1. Planta medica
2. Chemistry & biodiversity
3. Fitoterapia
4. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Chemicals

Nigella damascena has 4 reported phytochemicals identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include 2,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetic acid, Damascenine, Flavonoids, Triterpenes.

2,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetic acid

1. Planta medica

Damascenine

1. Food and chemical toxicology : an international journal published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association

Flavonoids

1. Phytochemistry

Triterpenes

1. Phytochemistry

Activities

Nigella damascena has 11 reported activities identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Analgesic, Antibacterial, Antifungal, Antimicrobial.

Antioxidant

1. Phytochemistry
2. Chemistry & biodiversity

Analgesic

1. Phytochemistry

Antibacterial

1. Phytochemistry

Antifungal

1. Phytochemistry

Antimicrobial

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Antimutagenic

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

Antipyretic

1. Phytochemistry

Antiviral

1. Phytochemistry

Diuretic

1. Phytochemistry

Sternutatory

1. Phytochemistry

Medicinal Uses

Nigella damascena has 3 reported medicinal uses identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include amenorrhea, menstruation, vermifuge.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations