Rootthugs
Thesium · Accepted scientific name
Scientific literature: Very Sparse (2 studies) · ★☆☆☆☆
Rootthugs, scientifically known as Thesium, is a fascinating genus of hemiparasitic plants belonging to the Santalaceae family. These unique species play a vital role in their ecosystems by extracting nutrients from host plants. Known for their diverse medicinal properties, they offer significant potential in traditional healing and pharmacological research.
- Family
- Santalaceae
- Native range
- Europe
- Parts used
- Not available
- Common names
- Rootthugs · Bastard-Toadflax
- Scientific synonyms
- Chrysothesium · Linosyris · 9 more
Names and Synonyms
Common Names
- Rootthugs
- Bastard-toadflax
Scientific Names
Accepted name
ThesiumSynonyms
- Chrysothesium
- Linosyris
- Thesion
- Frisca
- Thesidium
- Rhinostegia
- Xerololophus
- Steinreitera
- Hagnothesium
- Austroamericium
- Kunkeliella
Regional and Traditional Names
German:
- Leinblatt
- Leinblatt
French:
- Austroamericium
- Thésiums
Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, specifically within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. It is further classified under the order Santalales and the family Santalaceae. Finally, the medicinal species is identified by the genus Thesium.
| Rank | Classification |
|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae |
| Phylum | Streptophyta |
| Class | Equisetopsida |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae |
| Order | Santalales |
| Family | Santalaceae |
| Genus | Thesium |
Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)
Distribution
This plant exhibits a broad geographical distribution across several regions of the European continent. In Northern Europe, its presence is documented in Denmark, Great Britain, and Sweden. Moving toward the central part of the continent, it can also be found within Middle Europe. Specifically, the species is known to inhabit the landscapes of both Austria and Belgium. Consequently, these locations represent the primary areas where the medicinal plant is naturally distributed.
| Region | Area |
|---|---|
| Northern Europe | Denmark |
| Northern Europe | Great Britain |
| Northern Europe | Sweden |
| Middle Europe | Austria |
| Middle Europe | Belgium |
| Middle Europe | Czechia-Slovakia |
| Middle Europe | Germany |
| Middle Europe | Hungary |
| Middle Europe | Netherlands |
| Middle Europe | Poland |
Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)
Chemicals
Thesium has 2 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Fatty acids, Flavonoids.
| Chemical | Supporting sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| Fatty acids | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Flavonoids | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Fatty acids
- Journal of ethnopharmacology
Flavonoids
- Journal of ethnopharmacology