wall germander

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Wall Germander

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Lamiales and the family Lamiaceae, it is classified under the genus Teucrium.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad presence across several regions of the European continent. In Northern Europe, its habitat includes both Great Britain and Ireland. Moving toward Middle Europe, the species can be found growing within the borders of Austria. It also maintains a distribution that extends into Belgium. Finally, its range continues through the central territories of Czechia and Slovakia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Teucrium chamaedrys is characterized by its ability to thrive in diverse, sun-exposed environments ranging from lowland areas to montane regions. It is commonly found occupying transitional zones such as forest edges, meadows, and shrubberies, where it benefits from the interplay of light and varied soil structures. Its presence in mountain ecosystems demonstrates a notable adaptability to varying elevations and climatic conditions. By colonizing these open or semi-open habitats, the plant plays a role in the stabilization of meadow soils and provides a nectar source within these specific ecological niches.

Habitat :

forest edges, meadows, mountains, shrubberies

Life history

The life history of Teucrium chamaedrys is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. It exhibits a chamaephyte life form, specifically functioning as a chamaephyte, which indicates that its buds are located close to the soil surface, protected by the ground layer. Throughout its existence, the plant maintains an evergreen deciduousness, ensuring that its foliage remains functional and present across different seasons.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

chamaephyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Teucrium chamaedrys is characterized by a woody growth form that transitions between a shrub and a subshrub. As a terrestrial and independent organism, it does not function as a parasite or an epiphyte, maintaining a self-supporting structure rather than acting as a climber, liana, or vine. The plant exhibits an ascending shoot orientation, with its stature typically ranging from a minimum height of 0.08 m to a maximum of 0.45 m, maintaining an average height of approximately 0.14 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Growth form :

subshrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

0.45 m

Plant height mean:

0.14 m

Plant height min:

0.08 m

Shoot orientation :

ascending

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Teucrium chamaedrys is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which facilitates carbon fixation through the standard Calvin cycle typical of many temperate medicinal herbs. The plant exhibits a non-carnivorous nutritional strategy, relying on soil-based nutrient uptake rather than the capture of prey. Morphologically, its foliage is defined by a mean leaf size of 1.34 cm², a measurement that contributes to its specific leaf area (SLA), which has a mean value of 163.1 cm²/g. This SLA value reflects the structural investment in leaf tissue relative to its mass, providing insight into the plant's resource allocation and photosynthetic efficiency within its ecological niche.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf size mean:

1.34 cm²

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

163.1 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Teucrium chamaedrys is characterized by a sexual process, as both asexual reproduction and self-fertilization are notably absent. The flowering period typically occurs during the warmer months, starting in July and concluding in September. The plant relies on biotic pollination, specifically utilizing an insect-based pollination syndrome where bees play a primary role in the transfer of pollen. Following successful pollination, the plant produces dry fruits containing small seeds. These seeds exhibit a mean mass of approximately 0.00116566666666667 g, with a minimum weight of 0.00111 g and a maximum weight of 0.0014 g. The dispersal of these seeds is anemochorous, meaning they are dispersed by the wind.

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Flowering time :

Jul

Flowering time :

Sep

Fruit dryness :

dry

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

bee

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Seed mass max:

0.0014 g

Seed mass mean:

0.00116566666666667 g

Seed mass min:

0.00111 g

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Teucrium chamaedrys has 68 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Teucrin A, Teucrioside, Verbascoside, CHLOROGENIC ACID, Isoquercitrin.

Teucrin A

1. Dr. Duke
2. Natural product research
3. Food additives and contaminants
4. Chemical research in toxicology
5. Hepatology (Baltimore, Md.)

Teucrioside

1. Phytochemical analysis : PCA
2. Natural product research
3. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Verbascoside

1. Phytochemical analysis : PCA
2. Natural product research
3. Journal of ethnopharmacology

CHLOROGENIC ACID

1. Dr. Duke
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Isoquercitrin

1. Dr. Duke
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Ursolic acid

1. Dr. Duke
2. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

caffeic acid

1. Dr. Duke
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

luteolin

1. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

3,3'-di-o-methyl ellagic acid

1. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

Ajugose

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Teucrium chamaedrys has 263 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Hepatotoxic, (-)-Chronotropic, (-)-Inotropic, ACE-Inhibitor.

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Food technology and biotechnology

Hepatotoxic

1. Phytochemical analysis : PCA
2. Planta medica
3. Annals of internal medicine

(-)-Chronotropic

1. Dr. Duke

(-)-Inotropic

1. Dr. Duke

ACE-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Acetylcholinergic

1. Dr. Duke

Aldose-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Allelochemic

1. Dr. Duke

Allergenic

1. Dr. Duke

Analgesic

1. Dr. Duke

Conditions

Teucrium chamaedrys has 10 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include hepatitis, colorectal cancer, colorectal carcinoma, drug resistance, inflammation.

Hepatitis

1. Zeitschrift fur Gastroenterologie
2. Annals of internal medicine
3. Hepatology (Baltimore, Md.)

Colorectal cancer

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Colorectal carcinoma

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Drug resistance

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Inflammation

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Jaundice

1. Annals of internal medicine

Liver cirrhosis

1. Zeitschrift fur Gastroenterologie

Liver diseases

1. Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical

Oxidative stress

1. Saudi pharmaceutical journal : SPJ : the official publication of the Saudi Pharmaceutical Society

Weight loss

1. Annals of internal medicine

Preparations

Teucrium chamaedrys has 7 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include herbal teas, Aqueous and 40% ethanol extracts, aqueous infusions, ethanolic extracts, infusions.

Herbal teas

1. Gastroenterologia y hepatologia
2. TheScientificWorldJournal

Aqueous and 40% ethanol extracts

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Aqueous infusions

1. Food technology and biotechnology

Ethanolic extracts

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Infusions

1. Gastroenterologia y hepatologia

Leaf and root methanolic extracts

1. Bioorganic & medicinal chemistry

Preparations for weight loss

1. Presse medicale (Paris, France : 1983)