Spiraea chamaedryfolia

Spiraea chamaedryfolia, commonly known as meadowsweet, is a perennial herb cherished for its fragrant, creamy flower clusters. Historically valued in traditional medicine, it contains salicylic acid, a natural precursor to aspirin. This resilient plant thrives in moist meadows, offering both aesthetic beauty and significant therapeutic potential in herbalism.

  • Scientific name: Spiraea chamaedryfolia
  • Family: Rosaceae
  • Native range: Europe

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, Spiraea chamaedryfolia, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is classified under the order Rosales and the family Rosaceae. Its taxonomic lineage concludes with its designation in the genus Spiraea.

Rank Classification Source
Kingdom Plantae WCVP
Phylum Streptophyta WCVP
Class Equisetopsida WCVP
Subclass Magnoliidae WCVP
Order Rosales WCVP
Family Rosaceae WCVP
Genus Spiraea WCVP

Common Names

This plant, known scientifically as Spiraea chamaedryfolia, is recognized by various common names across different languages and regions. In Chinese, it is referred to as 石蚕叶绣线菊 (shí cán yè xiù xiàn jú), while in Finnish, it is called idänvirpiangervo. The plant is also known as Wjazowa wjerbička in Upper Sorbian and Спирея дубравколистная in Russian, and it is identified as Erwain dail llwyfen in Welsh.
Language Common Name Source
zh 石蚕叶绣线菊 Wikidata
fi idänvirpiangervo Wikidata
hsb Wjazowa wjerbička Wikidata
ru Спирея дубравколистная Wikidata
cy Erwain dail llwyfen Wikidata
ro Cununiță Wikidata
et taraenelas Wikidata
be спірэя дубраўкалістая Wikidata
uk таволга в'язолиста Wikidata
cs tavolník ožankolistý Wikidata

Distribution

This plant is widely distributed across several regions within Northern Europe. It can be found growing in the natural landscapes of Denmark and Finland. Additionally, its presence extends to the islands of Great Britain and Ireland. The species also inhabits the rugged terrains of Norway. Collectively, these locations define its specific geographical range across the northern part of the continent.

Region Area Source
Northern Europe Denmark WCVP
Northern Europe Finland WCVP
Northern Europe Great Britain WCVP
Northern Europe Ireland 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

Plant Parts

This plant, known scientifically as Spiraea chamaedryfolia, utilizes its leaves as a primary component in its botanical structure. The leaves are typically characterized by their serrated edges and distinct shape, serving the essential function of photosynthesis to fuel the plant's growth. In various traditional applications, the specific chemical properties found within these leaves are often the focus of medicinal interest.
Total parts
1
Scientific sources
1
Plant Part Sources Confidence
Leaves 1 ★☆☆☆☆

Chemicals

Spiraea chamaedryfolia has 6 reported phytochemicals identified across 8 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include flavanone, flavonols, astragalin, chlorogenic acid, cinnamic acid.

Total chemicals
6
Scientific sources
8

Most Reported Compounds

Compound Sources Confidence
flavanone 2 ★☆☆☆☆
flavonols 2 ★☆☆☆☆
astragalin 1 ★☆☆☆☆
chlorogenic acid 1 ★☆☆☆☆
cinnamic acid 1 ★☆☆☆☆
kaempferol 1 ★☆☆☆☆