Polygala amarella
Dwarf milkwort
Polygala amarella, commonly known as Felwort, is a perennial herb native to European meadows and woodlands. Traditionally used in herbal medicine, this plant is noted for its bitter properties. It has historically been employed to support digestive health and act as an expectorant, though it must be used cautiously.
- Scientific name: Polygala amarella
- Family: Polygalaceae
- Native range: Europe
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta within the class Equisetopsida. It falls under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Fabales, specifically being a member of the family Polygalaceae. Finally, it is categorized under the genus Polygala.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Fabales | WCVP |
| Family | Polygalaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Polygala | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known scientifically as Polygala amarella, is referred to by various regional names depending on the language. In German, it is called Sumpf-Kreuzblume, while in Belarusian, it is known as Крапінец горкі. In Lithuanian, the species is called Karčioji putokšlė, and in Finnish, it is commonly known as katkeralinnunruoho. Additionally, in Upper Sorbian, it is identified as Bahnowa křižnička.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| de | Sumpf-Kreuzblume | Wikidata |
| be | Крапінец горкі | Wikidata |
| lt | Karčioji putokšlė | Wikidata |
| fi | katkeralinnunruoho | Wikidata |
| hsb | Bahnowa křižnička | Wikidata |
| sv | Rosettjungfrulin | Wikidata |
| da | Bitter Mælkeurt | Wikidata |
| nb | Bitterblåfjær | Wikidata |
| ru | Истод горьковатый | Wikidata |
| cy | Cor-amlaethai | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a specific geographical range across several regions of Northern Europe. It can be found growing naturally within the borders of Denmark and Finland. Furthermore, its distribution extends to the various landscapes of Great Britain. The species is also documented throughout the territories of Norway. Finally, its presence is well-established across the country of Sweden.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Europe | Denmark | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Finland | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Great Britain | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Norway | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Sweden | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Austria | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Belgium | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Czechia-Slovakia | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Germany | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Hungary | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, Polygala amarella, is primarily studied for its bioactive secondary metabolites, which are concentrated in various morphological structures including the roots, leaves, and flowers. While traditional herbal preparations often focus on the whole aerial parts or the roots for their therapeutic properties, modern biotechnological approaches have expanded the scope of study to include in vitro cultivation. In these controlled laboratory environments, researchers utilize callus tissue—an unorganized mass of undifferentiated cells—to facilitate the large-scale production of specific medicinal compounds without the need to harvest the plant from its natural habitat.- Total parts
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| callus tissue | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Polygala amarella has 1 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include polygalasaponin XXVIII.
- Total chemicals
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| polygalasaponin XXVIII | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |