Pulicaria undulata subsp. undulata

Pulicaria undulata subsp. undulata, commonly known as the wavy tansy, is a resilient perennial herb native to various African regions. Renowned for its aromatic foliage and distinctive yellow blooms, this medicinal plant is traditionally utilized in folk medicine to treat respiratory ailments, skin inflammations, and various digestive disorders.

  • Scientific name: Pulicaria undulata subsp. undulata
  • Family: Asteraceae
  • Native range: Africa

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it is ordered under Asterales and falls into the family Asteraceae. It is specifically identified by the genus Pulicaria as the subspecies Pulicaria undulata subsp. undulata.

Rank Classification Source
Kingdom Plantae WCVP
Phylum Streptophyta WCVP
Class Equisetopsida WCVP
Subclass Magnoliidae WCVP
Order Asterales WCVP
Family Asteraceae WCVP
Genus Pulicaria WCVP

Common Names

This plant, Pulicaria undulata subsp. undulata, is known by several different names depending on the linguistic and regional context. In English, it is commonly referred to as wavy tansy, a name that reflects its distinctive leaf structure. Within the local contexts of North Africa, it is identified as kherba in Arabic and as t'mura in Berber.
Language Common Name Source

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific geographical distribution concentrated within the North African region. It can be found growing in the diverse landscapes of Algeria and Morocco. Additionally, its presence extends across the territories of Tunisia and Libya. The species also inhabits parts of Egypt, completing its regional range. Overall, these five countries represent the primary locations where this medicinal plant is distributed.

Region Area Source
Northern Africa Algeria WCVP
Northern Africa Egypt WCVP
Northern Africa Libya WCVP
Northern Africa Morocco WCVP
Northern Africa Tunisia WCVP
Macaronesia Canary Is. WCVP
West Tropical Africa Benin WCVP
West Tropical Africa Mali WCVP
West Tropical Africa Mauritania WCVP
West Tropical Africa Senegal WCVP

Plant Parts

This plant, Pulicaria undulata subsp. undulata, is primarily utilized for its medicinal properties through the use of its aerial parts. These above-ground structures, which include the stems, leaves, and flowering heads, contain the essential bioactive compounds necessary for therapeutic applications. By harvesting the aerial parts, practitioners can access the concentrated phytochemicals produced by the plant during its growth cycle above the soil line.
Total parts
1
Scientific sources
2
Plant Part Sources Confidence
aerial parts 2 ★☆☆☆☆

Activities

Pulicaria undulata subsp. undulata has 3 reported activities identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antibacterial, Anticancer, Antiviral.

Total activities
3
Scientific sources
4

Most Reported Activities

Activity Sources Confidence
Antibacterial 2 ★☆☆☆☆
Anticancer 1 ★☆☆☆☆
Antiviral 1 ★☆☆☆☆

Medicinal Uses

Pulicaria undulata subsp. undulata has 2 reported medicinal uses identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include gastric ulcer, inflammation.

Total uses
2
Scientific sources
2

Most Reported Uses

Use Sources Confidence
gastric ulcer 1 ★☆☆☆☆
inflammation 1 ★☆☆☆☆