feverfew

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• feather-leaved tansy
• featherfew
• feverfew

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Parthenium matricaria
• Leucanthemum parthenium
• Chamaemelum parthenium
• Leucanthemum parthenium var. flosculosum
• Chrysanthemum parthenium f. flosculosum
• Matricaria mandiana
• Pyrethrum parthenium var. flosculosum
• Pyrethrum parthenium var. multiplex
• Pyrethrum partheniifolium aureum
• Pyrethrum parthenium eximium
• Matricaria odorata
• Pyrethrum glanduliferum
• Pyrethrum grossheimii
• Matricaria parthenium
• Tanacetum glanduliferum
• Dendranthema parthenium
• Leucanthemum parthenium var. flosculosum
• Tanacetum grossheimii
• Matricaria alba
• Matricaria eximia
• Tanacetum parthenium var. flosculosum
• Matricaria florida
• Chrysanthemum parthenium var. discoideum
• Matricaria vulgaris
• Pontia matricaria
• Pyrethrum eximium
• Chrysanthemum parthenium
• Pyrethrum parthenium

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae within the phylum Streptophyta and is classified under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. It is further organized under the order Asterales and the family Asteraceae. Finally, the species is identified by its genus, Tanacetum.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant, known as Tanacetum parthenium, exhibits a specific geographical presence across several regions in Northern Europe. It can be found growing within the natural landscapes of Denmark. The species is also documented throughout the territories of Great Britain and Ireland. Furthermore, its distribution extends to the northern reaches of the continent in Norway. Finally, this medicinal plant is also native to the regions of Sweden.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Tanacetum parthenium is characterized by its remarkable adaptability to diverse topographical gradients, spanning an expansive elevational range from sea level (0 m AMSL) up to high-altitude regions reaching 3300 m AMSL. This plant thrives in a variety of complex environments, frequently colonizing mountainous terrains and forested areas where it integrates into the local vegetation structure. It is particularly well-suited to disturbed or rugged landscapes, often found growing amidst shrubberies and within stony places, where its ability to establish itself in rocky, less fertile substrates highlights its resilience in varied ecological niches.

Elevational range max:

3300 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

forest, mountains, shrubberies, stony places

Life history

The life history of Tanacetum parthenium is characterized by its classification as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. It functions primarily as a hemicryptophyte, a life form where the perennating buds are located at the soil surface, protected by leaf litter or soil during unfavorable conditions. This species maintains an evergreen nature, retaining its foliage to support continuous physiological processes.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

hemicryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Tanacetum parthenium is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and forb. This terrestrial plant is self-supporting rather than a climber or liana, and it functions as an independent organism without parasitic tendencies. It grows with an erect shoot orientation, reaching a minimum height of 0.15 m, a maximum height of 0.8 m, and maintains a mean plant height of approximately 0.40875 m. As a terrestrial species, it does not exhibit epiphytic or aquatic lifestyles.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

0.8 m

Plant height mean:

0.40875 m

Plant height min:

0.15 m

Shoot orientation :

erect

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Tanacetum parthenium is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, indicating a metabolic process optimized for moderate environments where carbon fixation occurs via the Calvin cycle. As a non-carnivorous species, it relies entirely on soil nutrients rather than capturing prey, and it does not function as a nitrogen fixer. The plant's leaf morphology exhibits significant variability, with an elliptic leaf form that maintains a mean leaf size of 45.63 cm². Specifically, the leaves demonstrate a mean length of 6 cm (ranging from a minimum of 2 cm to a maximum of 9 cm) and a mean width of 4 cm (varying from a minimum of 1 cm to a maximum of 4.5 cm). Furthermore, the plant possesses a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 363 cm²/g, reflecting its physiological strategy for balancing light interception and resource investment within its leaf tissues.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf form :

elliptic

Leaf length max:

9 cm

Leaf length mean:

6 cm

Leaf length min:

2 cm

Leaf size mean:

45.63 cm²

Leaf width max:

4.5 cm

Leaf width mean:

4 cm

Leaf width min:

1 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

363 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Tanacetum parthenium is characterized by sexual processes through bisexual flowers organized in a panicle inflorescence. The flowering period typically begins in June and concludes in August, featuring white flowers that measure between 0.3 cm and 0.4 cm in length, with a width ranging from 1.3 cm to 2.2 cm. Pollination is driven by biotic mechanisms, specifically involving insects such as bees. While self-fertilization is present, the plant relies on these biotic vectors for successful reproductive cycles. Following fertilization, the plant produces yellow fruits in the form of achenes. These fruits are indehiscent and vary in length from a minimum of 0.12 cm to a maximum of 0.15 cm, with a mean length of approximately 0.157 cm. Each fruit is highly prolific, containing more than 1,000 seeds. The seeds themselves are uniform in length at approximately 1.5 mm, with a mean mass of 0.00015257 g and a maximum mass of 0.00064 g. Dispersal occurs through unspecialized and anthropochorous syndromes, meaning seeds are spread via non-specific natural methods as well as human activity. Asexual reproduction is absent in this species.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

unspecialized

Dispersal syndrome :

anthropochorous

Flower colour :

white

Flower length max:

0.4 cm

Flower length min:

0.3 cm

Flower width max:

2.2 cm

Flower width min:

1.3 cm

Flowering time :

Jun

Flowering time :

Aug

Fruit colour :

yellow

Fruit length max:

0.15 cm

Fruit length mean:

0.156666666666667 cm

Fruit length min:

0.12 cm

Fruit type :

achene

Inflorescence :

panicle

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

bee

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Reproduction sexual :

bisexual

Seed length mean:

1.5 mm

Seed mass max:

0.00064 g

Seed mass mean:

0.000152571428571429 g

Seed mass min:

0 g

Seeds_per_fruit :

>1000

Self fertilization :

present

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Tanacetum parthenium has 4 reported plant parts identified across 12 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include flower, leaf, root, seed.

Flower

1. Phytochemistry
2. International journal of molecular sciences
3. Daru : journal of Faculty of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences
4. The Journal of pharmacy and pharmacology

Leaf

1. Phytochemistry
2. International journal of molecular sciences
3. Biochemical pharmacology
4. The Journal of pharmacy and pharmacology

Root

1. International journal of molecular sciences
2. The Journal of pharmacy and pharmacology

Seed

1. Phytochemistry
2. The Journal of pharmacy and pharmacology

Chemicals

Tanacetum parthenium has 171 reported phytochemicals identified across 12 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include parthenolide, apigenin, camphor, arachidonic acid, Alantolactone.

parthenolide

1. Dr. Duke
2. Biomedicines
3. Behavioural brain research
4. Plant cell reports
5. Drug discovery today

apigenin

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Phytochemistry
3. Phytotherapy research : PTR
4. Journal of medicinal food

camphor

1. Dr. Duke
2. International journal of molecular sciences
3. Chemistry & biodiversity
4. Journal of medicinal food

arachidonic acid

1. Biomedica biochimica acta
2. Prostaglandins, leukotrienes, and medicine
3. The Journal of pharmacy and pharmacology

Alantolactone

1. Dr. Duke
2. Contact dermatitis

Apigenin 7-glucuronide

1. Dr. Duke
2. Phytochemistry

Artecanin

1. Dr. Duke
2. The Journal of pharmacy and pharmacology

CAMPHENE

1. Dr. Duke
2. International journal of molecular sciences

Canin

1. Dr. Duke
2. The Journal of pharmacy and pharmacology

Chrysanthenyl acetate

1. Dr. Duke
2. The Journal of pharmacy and pharmacology

Activities

Tanacetum parthenium has 532 reported activities identified across 12 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Anticancer, Antioxidant, Antimigraine, Antibacterial, Antifibrotic.

Anticancer

1. Dr. Duke
2. Biomedicines
3. Drug discovery today
4. Pharmacognosy reviews
5. Molecular carcinogenesis

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. International journal of molecular sciences
3. Behavioural brain research
4. Drug design, development and therapy

Antimigraine

1. Dr. Duke
2. Polish journal of pharmacology and pharmacy
3. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Antibacterial

1. Dr. Duke
2. International journal of molecular sciences

Antifibrotic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Drug design, development and therapy

Antinociceptive

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antispasmodic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Pharmacognosy reviews

Antitumor

1. Dr. Duke
2. Drug design, development and therapy

Neuroprotective

1. Dr. Duke
2. Biomedicines

(-)-Chronotropic

1. Dr. Duke

Conditions

Tanacetum parthenium has 51 reported investigations on conditions identified across 12 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include migraine, cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, arthritis, epilepsy.

Migraine

1. Italian journal of pediatrics
2. Neurologia i neurochirurgia polska
3. Plant cell reports
4. Journal of AOAC International
5. The Journal of pharmacy and pharmacology

Cancer

1. Plant cell reports
2. Drug discovery today
3. Phytochemistry
4. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry
5. Environmental science and pollution research international

Rheumatoid arthritis

1. American journal of health-system pharmacy : AJHP : official journal of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists
2. Pharmacognosy reviews
3. Biomedical chromatography : BMC
4. Annals of the rheumatic diseases

Arthritis

1. Biochemical pharmacology
2. Journal of medicinal food
3. Folia haematologica (Leipzig, Germany : 1928)

Epilepsy

1. Biomedicines
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology
3. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Inflammation

1. Biomedicines
2. Chemistry & biology
3. OncoTargets and therapy

Migraine headaches

1. Biomedicines
2. Pharmacognosy reviews
3. Archives of internal medicine

Asthma

1. Pharmacognosy reviews
2. Drug design, development and therapy

Fever

1. Biochemical pharmacology
2. Folia haematologica (Leipzig, Germany : 1928)

Fevers

1. Pharmacognosy reviews
2. Prostaglandins, leukotrienes, and medicine

Preparations

Tanacetum parthenium has 11 reported preparations identified across 12 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include Ethanolic extracts of aerial parts, Extracts of Tanacetum parthenium, Extracts of feverfew, Leaves, alcoholic and hot water extracts.

Ethanolic extracts of aerial parts

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Extracts of tanacetum parthenium

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Extracts of feverfew

1. Lancet (London, England)

Leaves

1. Biochemical pharmacology

Alcoholic and hot water extracts

1. Daru : journal of Faculty of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences

Aqueous extracts

1. Polish journal of pharmacology and pharmacy

Ethanol extracts

1. Polish journal of pharmacology and pharmacy

Hydro-alcoholic extract (hae)

1. Avicenna journal of phytomedicine

Infusions

1. Biochemical pharmacology

Nutraceutical preparation

1. Italian journal of pediatrics