Rayed Tansy

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Rayed Tansy
• tansy-chrysanthemum

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Gymnocline leucocephala
• Achillea sambucifolia
• Achillea sambucina
• Chamaemelum leucocephalum
• Chrysanthemum macrophyllum
• Gymnocline macrophylla
• Matricaria macrophylla
• Pyrethrum hybridum
• Pyrethrum macrophyllum
• Tanacetum macrophyllum f. angustiloba

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 falls under the order Asterales and the family Asteraceae. Its specific taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Tanacetum.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad geographical presence across several regions of the European continent. In Northern Europe, its distribution includes Denmark, Great Britain, and Sweden. Moving toward the center of the continent, it can also be found within Middle Europe. Specifically, the species is documented to grow in Austria. Additionally, its range extends to include the territory of Belgium.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Tanacetum macrophyllum is characterized by its preference for diverse montane environments, where it thrives within forest ecosystems, open meadows, and dense shrubberies. This plant is strategically distributed across varying altitudes, occupying an elevational range that extends up to a maximum of 2500 m AMSL. By inhabiting these specific niches, from the sheltered undergrowth of forests to the sun-exposed expanses of meadows and shrubby thickets, the species utilizes a range of microclimates and soil conditions provided by these distinct vegetative layers.

Elevational range max:

2500 m AMSL

Habitat :

forest, meadows, shrubberies

Life history

The life history of Tanacetum macrophyllum is characterized by its status as a perennial organism, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. Functioning as a hemicryptophyte, the plant's regenerative buds are located at or just below the soil surface, protected by leaf litter or organic matter during unfavorable periods. This life form, categorized under both hemicryptophyte classifications, ensures its ability to survive seasonal environmental shifts and re-emerge annually to complete its biological cycle.

Life form :

hemicryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Tanacetum macrophyllum is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb. This self-supporting plant typically exhibits a terrestrial habit and does not function as a climber, liana, or vine, nor does it act as a parasite or an epiphyte. In terms of stature, it is a relatively low-growing species with a plant height that varies from a minimum of 0.4 m to a maximum of 1.5 m, maintaining an average height of approximately 0.875 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

1.5 m

Plant height mean:

0.875 m

Plant height min:

0.4 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Tanacetum macrophyllum is primarily characterized by its utilization of the C3 photosynthetic pathway, a metabolic process where carbon dioxide is fixed directly into a three-carbon compound during the initial stages of the Calvin cycle. This C3 pathway indicates that the plant relies on the enzyme RuBisCO to catalyze the carboxylation of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate, a mechanism typically efficient in temperate or shaded environments where photorespiration rates are manageable. This metabolic framework dictates the plant's water-use efficiency and carbon assimilation patterns, influencing how it manages gas exchange and energy production through its specialized leaf structures and enzymatic activities.

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Tanacetum macrophyllum is characterized by a specific seasonal flowering window and specialized biological mechanisms for pollination and seed distribution. The flowering period typically begins in July and concludes in August. The plant utilizes a biotic pollination syndrome, specifically relying on insects to facilitate the transfer of pollen. While it is capable of self-fertilization, the reproductive process is supported by these insect interactions. Once fertilization occurs, the plant produces seeds with a mean mass of approximately 0.000319 g. The dispersal of these seeds follows a zoochorous syndrome, meaning they are primarily spread via animals, ensuring the expansion of the species across its habitat.

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Flowering time :

Jul

Flowering time :

Aug

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Seed mass mean:

0.000319 g

Self fertilization :

present

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Tanacetum macrophyllum has 7 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include 1,8-Cineole, Borneol, Copaborneol, Isobornyl acetate, alpha-Thujone.

1,8-Cineole

1. Natural product communications

Borneol

1. Natural product communications

Copaborneol

1. Natural product communications

Isobornyl acetate

1. Natural product communications

alpha-Thujone

1. Natural product communications

camphor

1. Natural product communications

gamma-Eudesmol

1. Natural product communications