{{short description|Species of plant}} {{Speciesbox |image = Anacyclus_pyrethrum_-_Köhler–s_Medizinal-Pflanzen-011.jpg |image_caption = Mount Atlas daisy |status_system = IUCN3.1 |status = VU |status_ref = <ref name=iucn>{{cite journal|author=Rankou, H.|author2=Ouhammou, A.|author3=Taleb, M.|author4=Manzanilla, V.|author5=Martin, G.|name-list-style=amp|title=Anacyclus pyrethrum|journal=The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species|date=2015|issue=2015|doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-4.RLTS.T202924A53798702.en|doi-access=free}}</ref> |genus = Anacyclus |species = pyrethrum |authority = (L.) Link |synonyms = ''Anthemis pyrethrum'' L.<br/> ''Anacyclus depressus'' Ball<br/> ''Anacyclus freynii'' Willk.<br/> ''Anacyclus officinarum'' Hayne<br/> Sources: E+M,<ref name="EUROMED">{{cite web | url = http://ww2.bgbm.org/EuroPlusMed/PTaxonDetail.asp?NameId=117602&PTRefFk=7000000 | title = Details for: ''Anacyclus pyrethrum'' | accessdate = 2008-06-16 |author1=Botanic Garden | author-link = Botanical Garden in Berlin |author2=Botanical Museum Berlin-Dahlem |name-list-style=amp| work = Euro+Med PlantBase | publisher = Freie Universität Berlin }}</ref> AFPD<ref name="afpd">{{cite web |url=http://www.ville-ge.ch/cjb/bd/africa/details.php?langue=an&id=135636 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130101090239/http://www.ville-ge.ch/cjb/bd/africa/details.php?langue=an&id=135636 |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 1, 2013 |title=''Anthemis pyrethrum'' record n° 135636 |accessdate=2008-06-16 |work=African Plants Database |publisher=South African National Biodiversity Institute, the Conservatoire et Jardin botaniques de la Ville de Genève and Tela Botanica }}</ref> |}}
'''''Anacyclus pyrethrum''''', the '''pellitory''', '''Spanish chamomile''', '''Mount Atlas daisy''', '''bertram''', or '''Akarkara''', is a species of flowering plant in the daisy family Asteraceae.<ref name=AZEGP>{{cite book | editor-last = Brickell | editor-first = Christopher | title = The Royal Horticultural Society A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants | year = 2008 | publisher = Dorling Kindersley | location = United Kingdom | isbn = 9781405332965}}</ref> It is native to Mediterranean Europe and parts of North Africa, but also naturalised in other parts of Europe, India and Pakistan.<ref name = GRIN>{{GRIN}}</ref> This herbaceous perennial resembles chamomile species in habitat and appearance.
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.<ref>{{Cite web|title=pyrethrum {{!}} Definition, Description, Insecticide, & Species|url=https://www.britannica.com/plant/pyrethrum|access-date=2021-01-12|website=Encyclopedia Britannica|language=en}}</ref> Both ''pyrethrum'' and "pellitory" derive ultimately from the ancient Greek for "fire" (πῦρ).<ref name=SOED>{{cite book | title = Shorter Oxford English Dictionary | year = 2007 | edition = 6th | pages = 3804 | publisher = Oxford University Press | location = United Kingdom | isbn = 9780199206872}}</ref>
== Vernacular names == '''''Anacyclus pyrethrum''''' is known by various regional names in India and is commonly used in traditional systems like Ayurveda and Unani medicine.
{| class="wikitable" ! Language !! Vernacular Name !! Script |- | Hindi || Akarkara || अकरकरा |- |Sanskrit |Akalla |आकल्ल |- |Sanskrit |Ākārakarabha |आकारकरभ |- | Urdu || Āqar qarha || عاقر قرحا |- | Tamil || Akkirakaram || அக்கிரகரம் |- | Telugu || Akarkara || అకర్కర |- | Kannada || Akarkara || ಅಕಾರ್ಕರ |- | Malayalam || Akarkaram || അകര്കാരം |}
<ref>{{cite book |last=Nadkarni |first=K. M. |title=Indian Materia Medica |volume=1 |publisher=Popular Prakashan |year=2002 |pages=60–61 |isbn=978-8171548194}}</ref> <ref>{{cite book |last=Warrier |first=P. K. |title=Indian Medicinal Plants: A Compendium of 500 Species |volume=1 |publisher=Orient Longman |year=1993 |pages=49–50 |isbn=978-0-86311-464-9}}</ref>
==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.<ref name = RHSPF>{{cite web | url= https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/89205/i-Anacyclus-pyrethrum-i-var-i-depressus-i/Details | title= RHS Plantfinder - ''Anacyclus pyrethrum'' var. ''depressus'' | publisher=Royal Horticultural Society | accessdate=12 January 2018}}</ref> <gallery> File:Anacyclus pyrethrum depressus habitus1.jpg|Var. ''depressus'' File:Anacyclus pyrethrum depressus open.jpg|same plant, flower detail File:Anacyclus pyrethrum depressus closed.jpg|Var. ''depressus'', flowers closed </gallery>
==Medicinal uses== Extracts of ''Anacyclus pyrethrum'' have anabolic activity in mice and also increase testosterone in the animal model.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.scipharm.at/download.asp?id%3D346 |title=Scientia Pharmaceutica |accessdate=2011-07-31 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111003111346/http://www.scipharm.at/download.asp?id=346 |archivedate=2011-10-03 }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|last1=Sharma|first1=Vikas|last2=Boonen|first2=Jente|last3=Spiegeleer|first3=Bart De|last4=Dixit|first4=V. K.|title=Androgenic and Spermatogenic Activity of Alkylamide-Rich Ethanol Solution Extract of DC|journal=Phytotherapy Research|date=January 2013|volume=27|issue=1|pages=99–106|doi=10.1002/ptr.4697|pmid=22473789|s2cid=23573730 }}</ref>
Ayurveda and Siddha medical traditions in India use it for diseases of the abdomen, sciatica, cough and others.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Khare |first=C.P. |title=Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeial Plant Drugs |publisher=CRC Press |year=2016 |isbn=978-1-4665-9000-7 |location=Boca Raton, FL |pages=54-55}}</ref> It is called Akkal-Kara in Hindi, Akkal Kadha in Marathi, Akkala-karra Malayalam, Akkarkkara (അകർക്കാര)(Telugu: అక్కలకఱ్ఱ)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://andhrabharati.com/dictionary/index.php?w=%E0%B0%85%E0%B0%95%E0%B1%8D%E0%B0%95%E0%B0%B2%E0%B0%95%E0%B0%B1%E0%B1%8D%E0%B0%B1|title=Akkala-karra; అక్కలకర, అక్కలకఱ్ఱ, అక్కలగర : శంకరనారాయణ తెలుగు-ఇంగ్లీష్ నిఘంటువు 1953}}</ref> and Akkarakaaram (Tamil: அக்கரகாரம்). A kind of oil is prepared by a method known as pit extraction (Tamil: குழி எண்ணெய்).{{Medcn|date=February 2016}}
In ''The Perfumed Garden'' (from 15th century Tunisia), al-Nefzawi recommends pelleter taken externally as an ointment on the penis and scrotum or internally to enhance sexual pleasure and enhance erection (ch. 13, 15, 17).
== References == {{Reflist}}
== External links == {{commons category}} *{{UniProt Taxonomy | name = Anacyclus pyrethrum | id = 159698 | accessdate = 2008-06-16 }} *{{cite web | url = http://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/p/pellit19.html | title = Pellitory | accessdate = 2008-06-16 | author = M. Grieve | authorlink = Maud Grieve | year = 1931 | work = A Modern Herbal | publisher = © Copyright Protected 1995-2008 Botanical.com | archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20080709010532/http://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/p/pellit19.html| archivedate= 9 July 2008 | url-status= live}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q1855185}}
Category:Anthemideae Category:Medicinal plants of Africa Category:Medicinal plants of Asia Category:Medicinal plants of Europe