Anacyclus pyrethrum

Anacyclus pyrethrum, the pellitory, Spanish chamomile, Mount Atlas daisy, or Akarkara, is a species of flowering plant in the daisy family Asteraceae.[4] It is native to Mediterranean Europe and parts of North Africa, but also naturalised in other parts of Europe, India and Pakistan.[5] This herbaceous perennial resembles chamomile species in habitat and appearance.

Anacyclus pyrethrum
Mount Atlas daisy
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Asterales
Family: Asteraceae
Genus: Anacyclus
Species:
A. pyrethrum
Binomial name
Anacyclus pyrethrum
Synonyms

Anthemis pyrethrum L.
Anacyclus depressus Ball
Anacyclus freynii Willk.
Anacyclus officinarum Hayne
Sources: E+M,[2] AFPD[3]

The plants known as pellitory-of-the-wall and spreading pellitory belong to a different family, the nettles (Urticaceae).

Names

Although one might assume from the specific epithet pyrethrum that this plant contains pyrethrins, it does not.[6] Both pyrethrum and "pellitory" derive ultimately from the ancient Greek for "fire" (πῦρ).[7]

Cultivation

Anacyclus pyrethrum var. depressus (sometimes considered a separate species, Anacyclus depressus), called mat daisy or Mount Atlas daisy, is grown as a spring-blooming, low-water ornamental. It produces mats of grey-green, ferny foliage and single daisy-like white flowers. It is suitable for growing in an alpine or rock garden. It has gained the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit.[8]

  • Var. depressus
  • same plant, flower detail
  • Var. depressus, flowers closed

Indian traditional medicine

Ayurveda (the ancient Indian medicine system) and Siddha (the medical system from Tamil Nadu, a southern state of India) have uses for this plant root and it has been used for centuries as a medicine. It is called Akkal-Kara in Hindi, Akkal Kadha in Marathi, and Akkarakaaram (Tamil: அக்கரகாரம்). A kind of oil is prepared by a method known as pit extraction (Tamil: குழி எண்ணெய்).

Extracts of Anacyclus pyrethrum have anabolic activity in mice and also increase testosterone in the animal model.[9][10]

References
  1. Rankou, H.; Ouhammou, A.; Taleb, M.; Manzanilla, V. & Martin, G. (2015). "Anacyclus pyrethrum". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (2015). doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-4.RLTS.T202924A53798702.en.
  2. Botanic Garden & Botanical Museum Berlin-Dahlem. "Details for: Anacyclus pyrethrum". Euro+Med PlantBase. Freie Universität Berlin. Retrieved 2008-06-16.
  3. "Anthemis pyrethrum record n° 135636". African Plants Database. South African National Biodiversity Institute, the Conservatoire et Jardin botaniques de la Ville de Genève and Tela Botanica. Retrieved 2008-06-16.
  4. Brickell, Christopher, ed. (2008). The Royal Horticultural Society A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants. United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. ISBN 9781405332965.
  5. "Anacyclus pyrethrum". Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN). Agricultural Research Service (ARS), United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).
  6. "pyrethrum | Definition, Description, Insecticide, & Species". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 2021-01-12.
  7. Shorter Oxford English dictionary (6th ed.). United Kingdom: Oxford University Press. 2007. p. 3804. ISBN 9780199206872.
  8. "RHS Plantfinder - Anacyclus pyrethrum var. depressus". Royal Horticultural Society. Retrieved 12 January 2018.
  9. "Scientia Pharmaceutica". Archived from the original on 2011-10-03. Retrieved 2011-07-31.
  10. Sharma, Vikas; Boonen, Jente; Spiegeleer, Bart De; Dixit, V. K. (January 2013). "Androgenic and Spermatogenic Activity of Alkylamide-Rich Ethanol Solution Extract of DC". Phytotherapy Research. 27 (1): 99–106. doi:10.1002/ptr.4697. PMID 22473789.
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