Great Burnet

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• great burnet
• official burnet
• burnet bloodwort
• salad burnet
• sanguisorba

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Pimpinella officinalis
• Poterium officinale
• Sanguisorba officinalis var. carnea
• Sanguisorba officinalis f. cordifolia
• Sanguisorba officinalis subsp. montana
• Sanguisorba officinalis proles montana
• Sanguisorba officinalis f. hispanica
• Sanguisorba officinalis var. montana
• Sanguisorba officinalis f. serpentini
• Sanguisorba officinalis var. sabauda
• Sanguisorba officinalis f. microcephala
• Sanguisorba officinalis subsp. microcephala
• Sanguisorba officinalis f. pallescens
• Sanguisorba officinalis var. pilosella
• Sanguisorba officinalis f. pilosella
• Sanguisorba officinalis var. polygama
• Sanguisorba officinalis subsp. polygama
• Sanguisorba officinalis var. pubescens
• Sanguisorba officinalis var. serpentini
• Sanguisorba officinalis var. typica
• Sanguisorba neglecta
• Sanguisorba nudicaulis
• Sanguisorba sabauda
• Sanguisorba longa f. dilutiflora
• Sanguisorba major
• Sanguisorba media
• Sanguisorba microcephala
• Poterium officinale f. montanum
• Sanguisorba officinalis var. auriculata
• Sanguisorba officinalis f. albarracinensis
• Sanguisorba officinalis var. cordata
• Sanguisorba officinalis f. auriculata
• Sanguisorba officinalis var. cordifolia
• Sanguisorba officinalis f. macrophylla
• Sanguisorba officinalis f. dilutiflora
• Sanguisorba officinalis var. dilutiflora
• Sanguisorba officinalis f. nana
• Sanguisorba officinalis var. glandulosa
• Sanguisorba officinalis var. serotina
• Sanguisorba officinalis subsp. glandulosa
• Sanguisorba officinalis var. globularis
• Sanguisorba minor var. sabauda
• Sanguisorba officinalis var. hispanica
• Sanguisorba officinalis var. latifoliata
• Sanguisorba officinalis var. nana
• Sanguisorba minor var. altissima
• Sanguisorba serpentini
• Sanguisorba taurica
• Sanguisorba unsanensis
• Sanguisorba andersonii
• Sanguisorba angustifolia
• Sanguisorba auriculata
• Sanguisorba baicalensis
• Sanguisorba bracteosa
• Sanguisorba canadensis var. media
• Sanguisorba cernua
• Sanguisorba cordifolia
• Sanguisorba cordifolia var. major
• Sanguisorba cordifolia var. minor
• Sanguisorba cordifolia f. ramosa
• Sanguisorba cordifolia f. simplex
• Sanguisorba cylindrica
• Sanguisorba glandulosa
• Sanguisorba globularis
• Sanguisorba hispanica
• Sanguisorba komaroviana
• Sanguisorba konradii
• Poterium officinale f. sabaudum
• Sanguisorba officinalis f. latifoliata
• Sanguisorba longa
• Sanguisorba montana
• Sanguisorba officinalis var. longa
• Sanguisorba officinalis var. microcephala
• Sanguisorba rubra
• Sanguisorba serotina

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 and class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it is organized under the order Rosales and the family Rosaceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Sanguisorbia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant, known as Sanguisorbica officinalis, exhibits a specific presence across various regions of Northern Europe. It can be found growing in the coastal and inland landscapes of Denmark. Its distribution also extends to the northern territories of Finland. Additionally, the species is documented within the natural habitats of Great Britain. Finally, its range encompasses the island nations of both Iceland and Ireland.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Sanguisorba officinalis is characterized by its remarkable adaptability to diverse landscapes and a broad altitudinal distribution. It thrives across a wide elevational gradient, ranging from lowlands as low as 30 m AMSL to high-altitude environments reaching a maximum of 3000 m AMSL, with a mean elevation of approximately 1515 m AMSL. This species demonstrates a versatile habitat preference, frequently colonizing forest edges, meadows, and shrubberies. It is equally capable of inhabiting varied moisture regimes, found in both dry meadows and more saturated environments such as swamps and areas near rivers, reflecting its capacity to integrate into both montane and riparian ecosystems.

Elevational range max:

3000 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

1515 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

30 m AMSL

Habitat :

forest edges, meadows, meadows: dry, mountains, rivers, shrubberies, swamps

Life history

The life history of Sanguisorbia officinalis is characterized by its nature as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. Its structural development is categorized under two life form classifications: it functions as a phanerophyte, possessing visible above-ground stems, while also exhibiting characteristics of a hemicryptophyte, where the perennating buds are located at the soil surface to survive unfavorable conditions. Furthermore, the plant is deciduous, shedding its foliage annually as part of its seasonal cycle.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

hemicryptophyte

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Sanguisorba officinalis is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb, specifically categorized as a forb. This species is a terrestrial plant that grows independently, functioning as a non-parasitic organism rather than an epiphyte or a parasite. In terms of stature, it is a self-supporting plant that does not exhibit climbing behaviors such as a liana or vine. The plant's height typically ranges from a minimum of 0.2 m to a maximum of 1.2 m, with an average height of approximately 0.6125 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

1.2 m

Plant height mean:

0.6125 m

Plant height min:

0.2 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Sanguisorba officinalis is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, indicating a metabolic process optimized for temperate environments where carbon fixation occurs via the Calvin cycle. As a non-carnivorous species, its nutrient acquisition relies on soil-based absorption rather than insectivory. The plant's leaf morphology plays a critical role in its resource management, featuring a cordate-lanceolate form with toothed margins and an absence of leaf thorns or spines. The foliage exhibits significant morphological variation, with leaf lengths ranging from a minimum of 1 cm to a maximum of 7 cm, and an average length of 4 cm. The width of the leaves is similarly variable, ranging from 0.5 cm to 3 cm, resulting in a mean leaf width of 1.75 cm. These dimensions contribute to a mean leaf size of approximately 23.72667 cm². Furthermore, the plant maintains a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 220.07 cm²/g, reflecting its structural investment in leaf tissue density relative to its surface area.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf form :

cordate-lanceolate

Leaf length max:

7 cm

Leaf length mean:

4 cm

Leaf length min:

1 cm

Leaf margin :

toothed

Leaf size mean:

23.72667 cm²

Leaf spines :

no

Leaf thorns :

no

Leaf width max:

3 cm

Leaf width mean:

1.75 cm

Leaf width min:

0.5 cm

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

220.07 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Sanguisorbia officinalis is characterized by a sexual process through bisexual flowers, with asexual reproduction being entirely absent. The flowering period typically commences in June and concludes in September. During this stage, the plant produces inflorescences that range in length from a minimum of 0.01 m to a maximum of 0.03 m. The pollination strategy is biotic, specifically relying on insects, with bees acting as a primary pollinator. Notably, self-fertilization is absent in this species. Following successful pollination, the plant develops fruit in the form of an achene, which is indehiscent. The resulting seeds are quite small, with a mean mass of approximately 0.002208909 g, ranging from a minimum of 0.00069 g to a maximum of 0.00286 g. These seeds are dispersed via an anemochorous syndrome, meaning they are dispersed by the wind.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Flowering time :

Jun

Flowering time :

Sep

Fruit type :

achene

Inflorescence length max:

0.03 m

Inflorescence length min:

0.01 m

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

bee

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Reproduction sexual :

bisexual

Seed mass max:

0.00286 g

Seed mass mean:

0.002208909 g

Seed mass min:

0.00069 g

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Sanguisorba officinalis has 1 reported plant parts identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include root.

Root

1. Phytochemistry

Chemicals

Sanguisorba officinalis has 24 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Sanguiin H-6, Ziyuglycoside I, ziyuglycoside II, (+)-Gallocatechin, (+)-catechin.

Sanguiin H-6

1. Dr. Duke
2. The American journal of Chinese medicine

Ziyuglycoside I

1. Dr. Duke
2. The American journal of Chinese medicine

ziyuglycoside II

1. Dr. Duke
2. The American journal of Chinese medicine

(+)-Gallocatechin

1. Dr. Duke

(+)-catechin

1. Dr. Duke

19-Dehydroursolic acid

1. Dr. Duke

Cyanidin 3-glucoside

1. Dr. Duke

Ellagitannins

1. Dr. Duke

FAT

1. Dr. Duke

Phenols

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Activities

Sanguisorba officinalis has 234 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antibacterial, Anticancer, Antitumor, Antiviral, Hypoglycemic.

Antibacterial

1. Dr. Duke
2. The American journal of Chinese medicine

Anticancer

1. Dr. Duke
2. The American journal of Chinese medicine

Antitumor

1. Dr. Duke
2. The American journal of Chinese medicine

Antiviral

1. Dr. Duke
2. The American journal of Chinese medicine

Hypoglycemic

1. Dr. Duke
2. The American journal of Chinese medicine

Neuroprotective

1. Dr. Duke
2. The American journal of Chinese medicine

11B-HSD-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

5-Lipoxygenase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

ACE-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

ATPase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Conditions

Sanguisorba officinalis has 8 reported investigations on conditions identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include bleeding, burns, duodenal ulcers, Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus, atherosclerosis.

Bleeding

1. The Korean journal of physiology & pharmacology : official journal of the Korean Physiological Society and the Korean Society of Pharmacology
2. Planta medica

Burns

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
2. The American journal of Chinese medicine

Duodenal ulcers

1. The Korean journal of physiology & pharmacology : official journal of the Korean Physiological Society and the Korean Society of Pharmacology
2. Planta medica

Methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Atherosclerosis

1. Planta medica

Diarrhea

1. Planta medica

Leukopenia

1. The American journal of Chinese medicine

Vascular diseases

1. Planta medica

Preparations

Sanguisorba officinalis has 12 reported preparations identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include methanol extracts, Ethanol extract, MeOH extract, ZYM-201 sodium succinate, aqueous or ethanolic extracts.

Methanol extracts

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Ethanol extract

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Meoh extract

1. Phytochemistry

Zym-201 sodium succinate

1. Planta medica

Aqueous or ethanolic extracts

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Aqueous solutions of ethanolic tinctures

1. Biology

Crude ethanolic extracts

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Crude extracts

1. Journal of applied microbiology

Extract

1. Yao wu shi pin fen xi = Journal of food and drug analysis

Extracts

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine