masterwort

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Peucedanum angustifolium
• Peucedanum ostruthium var. triternatum
• Imperatoria aromatica
• Selinum imperataria
• Imperatoria triternata
• Imperatoria ostruthium
• Angelica ostruthium
• Imperatoria major
• Angelica angustifolia
• Imperatoria major
• Selinum ostruthium
• Imperatoria angustifolia
• Ostruthium officinale
• Peucedanum ostruthium var. vulgare
• Tommasinia verticillaris var. angustifolia
• Cervaria angustifolia
• Peucedanum ostruthium proles imperatoides
• Peucedanum ostruthium var. angustifolium
• Peucedanum imperatoides
• Imperatoria ostruthium var. triternata
• Imperatoria ostruthium var. angustifolia

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta within the class Equisetopsida. Further taxonomically, it is situated in the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Apiales. Finally, it is a member of the family Apiaceae and is identified by the genus Peucedanum.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific distribution pattern across several regions in Northern Europe. It can be found growing in the coastal and inland areas of Denmark. Its presence extends to the North Atlantic islands of the Førøyars. Additionally, the species is documented within the territories of Great Britain and Ireland. Finally, its northernmost reach includes the rugged landscapes of Norway.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Peucedanum ostruthium is characterized by its existence as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. As a hemicryptophyte, its perennating buds are located at or just below the soil surface, protected by the remains of previous years' growth or leaf litter. This species follows a deciduous growth pattern, shedding its foliage annually as it transitions through its seasonal cycles.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

hemicryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Peucedanum ostruthium is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb, specifically classified as a forb. It is a terrestrial, independent plant that does not function as a parasite or an epiphyte. The plant exhibits a self-supporting climbing habit, meaning it does not require external structures like lianas or vines to maintain its position. Its shoot orientation is strictly erect, facilitating its upward growth. In terms of stature, the plant typically reaches a mean height of approximately 0.467 m, with individual specimens ranging from a minimum of 0.3 m to a maximum height of 1 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

1 m

Plant height mean:

0.467 m

Plant height min:

0.3 m

Shoot orientation :

erect

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Peucedanum ostruthium is characterized by its specialized metabolic processes, most notably its use of the C3 photosynthetic pathway. As a C3 plant, its carbon fixation process occurs through the Calvin cycle, where carbon dioxide is directly fixed by the enzyme RuBisCO to form a three-carbon compound, 3-phosphoglycerate. This pathway is typical for many temperate herbaceous species, allowing the plant to function efficiently in environments where moisture is relatively available and temperatures are moderate. The physiological efficiency of this C3 mechanism dictates the plant's gas exchange patterns and water-use efficiency, influencing how it regulates transpiration and nutrient uptake to support its growth and secondary metabolite production.

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Peucedanum ostruthium is characterized by a specific phenological window and diverse biological mechanisms. The flowering period typically commences in July and concludes in August. During this stage, the plant utilizes a biotic pollination syndrome, relying specifically on insects to facilitate the transfer of pollen. While the plant is capable of self-fertilization, its reproductive success is tied to these insect interactions. Following successful fertilization, the plant produces seeds with a mean mass of approximately 0.001345 g. The subsequent dispersal of these seeds follows an anemochorous syndrome, meaning they are dispersed via wind to colonize new areas.

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Flowering time :

Jul

Flowering time :

Aug

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Seed mass mean:

0.001345 g

Self fertilization :

present

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Peucedanum ostruthium 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 rhizome, leaf, root.

Rhizome

1. Biomolecules
2. Bioorganic chemistry
3. Journal of natural products

Leaf

1. Bioorganic chemistry

Root

1. Biomolecules

Chemicals

Peucedanum ostruthium has 37 reported phytochemicals identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Osthole, Ostruthin, (+)-4-Terpineol, (+)-Sabinene, (-)-Limonene.

Osthole

1. Dr. Duke
2. Zeitschrift fur Naturforschung. C, Journal of biosciences

Ostruthin

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of natural products

(+)-4-Terpineol

1. Zeitschrift fur Naturforschung. C, Journal of biosciences

(+)-Sabinene

1. Zeitschrift fur Naturforschung. C, Journal of biosciences

(-)-Limonene

1. Zeitschrift fur Naturforschung. C, Journal of biosciences

(-)-beta-Pinene

1. Zeitschrift fur Naturforschung. C, Journal of biosciences

4-Terpineol

1. Zeitschrift fur Naturforschung. C, Journal of biosciences

6-(3-carboxybut-2-enyl)-7-hydroxycoumarin

1. Planta medica

ALPHA-PINENE

1. Dr. Duke

Alatol

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Peucedanum ostruthium has 214 reported activities identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, 5-Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor, Acaricide, Acidulant, Aldose-Reductase-Inhibitor.

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

5-Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Acaricide

1. Dr. Duke

Acidulant

1. Dr. Duke

Aldose-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Allelochemic

1. Dr. Duke

Allergenic

1. Dr. Duke

Analgesic

1. Dr. Duke

Anthelmintic

1. Dr. Duke

Anti-LDL

1. Dr. Duke

Conditions

Peucedanum ostruthium has 5 reported investigations on conditions identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include Alzheimer's disease, cardiovascular disease, edema, hyperthermia, inflammation.

Alzheimer's disease

1. Bioorganic chemistry

Cardiovascular disease

1. Journal of natural products

Edema

1. Planta medica

Hyperthermia

1. Planta medica

Inflammation

1. Planta medica

Preparations

Peucedanum ostruthium has 3 reported preparations identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include Radix Imperatoriae, extract derived from the roots and rhizomes, leaves and rhizome extracts.

Radix imperatoriae

1. Biomolecules

Extract derived from the roots and rhizomes

1. Biomolecules

Leaves and rhizome extracts

1. Bioorganic chemistry