Xeranthemum annuum

Xeranthemum annuum

The annual everlasting or immortelle (Xeranthemum annuum L., 1753) is a herbaceous species belonging to the Asteraceae family.

Systematics –
From a systematic point of view it belongs to:
Eukaryota Domain,
Kingdom Plantae,
Spermatophyta superdivision,
Magnoliophyta Division,
Magnoliopsida class,
Subclass Asteridae,
Asterales Order,
Asteraceae family,
Subfamily Cichorioideae,
Cardueae tribe,
Genus Xeranthemum,
Species X. Annuum.
The terms are synonymous:
– Centaurea dubia S.G.Gmel. ex Steud .;
– Xeranthemum annuum subsp. annuum;
– Xeranthemum annuum var. annuum;
– Xeranthemum inodorum Moench;
– Xeranthemum oleifolium Cav .;
– Xeranthemum ornatum Cass .;
– Xeranthemum radiatum Lam..

Etymology –
The term Xeranthemum comes from the Greek ξηρóς xerόs dry and from ἄνθεμον ánthemon fiore: the membranous and colored internal scales recall the appearance of dried flowers, the so-called perpetuins.
The specific epithet annuum comes from annus, year: annual, referring to the duration of the vegetative cycle.

Geographic Distribution and Habitat –
Xeranthemum annuum is a plant native to Eastern Europe and Western Asia that has naturalized in other parts of Europe.
In Europe it is a species distributed in the south-east of the continent (from Austria to Ukraine and from Belarus to Turkey).
In Italy it is present in Veneto, in Friuli-Venezia Giulia (but it is considered in both adventitious regions) and in Umbria while in the Alps it is found only in the province of Bolzano; beyond the border (always in the Alps) it is present in Austria (Länder of Carinthia). On the other European reliefs it is found in the Balkan Mountains and in the Carpathian Mountains.
The typical habitat for this plant is that of cultivated areas and anthropized environments but also of ruderal environments, abandoned areas and escarpments, in addition to the bare grasslands, pastures and arid meadows of the hilly plain. In these areas the preferred substrate is both calcareous and siliceous with neutral pH, low nutritional values ​​of the soil which must be arid. The altitudinal distribution is up to 800 m above sea level.

Description –
Annual everlasting are annual plants that grow to heights between 10 and 50 cm with secondary roots.
The aerial part of the stem is erect, simple or possibly branchy-corymbose at the top.
The leaves are whitish and voluminous with a whole and acute lamina; the leaves are of two types: basal and cauline. The basal ones are linear-spatulate, the cauline ones are lanceolate-linear. They have a width of 4 – 7 mm and a length of 20 – 65 mm, and can also be convoluted.
The inflorescence is formed by several flower heads which are carried by long solitary and naked pedicels which normally dominate the foliar apparatus. In the flower heads, a peduncle (or pedicel) supports an envelope composed of several bracts (or scales) arranged on several series and of different sizes, persistent and of different colors (purple, violet or white) that protect the more or less flat receptacle on which the tubular flowers are inserted. The flower heads are wider than long. The envelope has ovate-globose shapes (wider than long). The scales of the envelope are glabrous and membranous and are divided into three types:
– external scales, with ovate or subrotonda shape; size: 3 – 4 mm;
– medium scales, with an oblanceolate shape and provided with a short apical mucron, with a width of 5 mm and a length of 12 mm;
– internal vexillary scales which are those of the innermost series; they are shiny and colored and arranged in a patent way to simulate ligulate flowers; generally they are twice as long as the diameter of the central disk of the flower head; they have dimensions in width of 2 mm and in length of 16 mm.
the flower heads have a diameter of 1 – 1.5 cm.
The flowers are all of the tubular type (the ligulate type, the ray flowers are also sterile (male only) the external ones from 4 to 8 and hermaphrodite the innermost ones from 100 to 120; they are also tetra-cyclic (with four verticils: calyx – corolla – androceo – gynoecium) and pentamers (ie both the chalice and the corolla are composed of five elements).
In the chalice the sepals are reduced to a crown of scales. The corolla, which is deeply lobed, has a cylindrical shape ending with 5 teeth (the corollas of the peripheral flowers are bilabiate). The androceum is composed of 5 stamens with free filaments; the anthers caudate (with tail) are welded together and form a sleeve surrounding the stylus. The gynoecium is characterized by an inferior and unilocular ovary formed by 2 carpels; the stylus is unique with a bifid and hairless terminal stigma (there is only a tuft of hair at the apex of the stylus).
The antesis is between June and September.
The fruits are 4 – 6 mm achenes with pappus formed by 5-10 lesiniform reste.

Cultivation –
Xeranthemum annuum is a plant that grows wild and often grown in gardens for its flowers.
In its spontaneous state it grows in dry and sunny meadows, slopes, vines, and ruderal areas where they bloom during the summer months, characterizing entire areas with their pink-lilac color.
This plant grows in arid environments, cannot stand water stagnation and is an excellent plant for obtaining cut flowers and flowers to be kept dry.
For their cultivation they prefer sunny areas and a low water requirement.
Propagation can be done by sowing in open field, when the temperature exceeds 10 ° C and the optimum germination temperature is 15-18 ° C.
The optimum sowing distance is 20-25cm.

Customs and Traditions –
Xeranthemum annuum is a plant that is grown mainly for dry gardens or for the production of cut flowers to be kept dry.
However, this plant also possesses antioxidant and antimicrobial medicinal properties.
The extracts of this plant, in the laboratory, showed significant antibacterial activity against G + bacteria and weak to moderate activity against other microorganisms.
Based on the results obtained, X. annuum can be considered a plant that can provide a rich natural source of polyphenolic compounds with excellent antioxidant and antimicrobial activity.

Preparation Method –
Xeranthemum annuum is a plant that, for the most part, is grown in arid or rocky gardens and for cut flowers to be kept dry.
The collection of flowers must be done in full bloom and can be stored throughout the winter.
To proceed with drying it is necessary to cut the stems with the flowers still open or recently opened (depending on personal taste) and hang them upside down in a protected, shaded and airy place.
For medicinal use, flowers are used.

Guido Bissanti

Sources
– Acta Plantarum – Flora of the Italian Regions.
– Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
– GBIF, the Global Biodiversity Information Facility.
– Useful Tropical Plants Database.
– Conti F., Abbate G., Alessandrini A., Blasi C. (ed.), 2005. An annotated checklist of the Italian vascular flora, Palombi Editore.
– Pignatti S., 1982. Flora of Italy, Edagricole, Bologna.
– Treben M., 2000. Health from the Lord’s Pharmacy, Advice and experiences with medicinal herbs, Ennsthaler Editore.
Photo source:
– https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/143802282/original.jpeg

Warning: Pharmaceutical applications and alimurgical uses are indicated for informational purposes only, they do not represent in any way a medical prescription; therefore no responsibility is taken for their use for curative, aesthetic or food purposes.