# Sideritis

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***Sideritis***, also known as **ironwort**,[1] **mountain tea** and **shepherd's tea**, is a genus of [flowering plants](/source/Flowering_plant) known for their use as [herbal medicine](/source/Herbalism), commonly as a [herbal tea](/source/Herbal_tea). They are abundant in Mediterranean regions, the [Balkans](/source/Balkans), the [Iberian Peninsula](/source/Iberian_Peninsula) and [Macaronesia](/source/Macaronesia), but can also be found in Central Europe and temperate Asia.[2][3][4][5]

## History and etymology

In Greek, "sideritis" ([Gr](/source/Greek_language): σιδηρίτις) can be literally translated as "he who is made of iron".[6] The plant was known to ancient Greeks, specifically [Pedanius Dioscorides](/source/Pedanius_Dioscorides) and [Theophrastus](/source/Theophrastus).[7] Although Dioscorides describes three [species](/source/Species), only one (probably *S. scordioides*) is thought to belong to *Sideritis*. In ancient times "sideritis" was a generic reference for plants capable of healing wounds caused by iron weapons during battles. However, others hold that the name stems from the shape of the [sepal](/source/Sepal), which resembles the tip of a spear.[3]

## Taxonomy

In 2002, [molecular phylogenetic research](/source/Molecular_phylogenetics) found *Sideritis* and five other genera to be [embedded](/source/Paraphyly) in *[Stachys](/source/Stachys)*.[8] Further studies will be needed before *Stachys*, *Sideritis*, and their closest relatives can be revised.

Some schemes recognize and categorize up to 319 distinct species, [subspecies](/source/Subspecies), [ecotypes](/source/Ecotype), [forms](/source/Polymorphism_(biology)) or cultivars, including:[9][3]

- *[Sideritis barbellata](/source/Sideritis_barbellata)* Mend.-Heu. - endemic to the [Canary Island](/source/Canary_Islands) of [La Palma](/source/La_Palma), [Spain](/source/Spain)
- *[Sideritis candicans](/source/Sideritis_candicans)* Aiton - endemic to [Madeira](/source/Madeira), [Bugio Island](/source/Bugio_Island) and [Porto Santo Island](/source/Porto_Santo_Island)
- *[Sideritis cypria](/source/Sideritis_cypria)* Post - endemic to [Cyprus](/source/Cyprus)
- *[Sideritis elica](/source/Sideritis_elica)* - endemic to the [Rhodope Mountains](/source/Rhodope_Mountains) in [Bulgaria](/source/Bulgaria)[10]
- *[Sideritis euboea](/source/Sideritis_euboea)* Heldr - found in the island of [Euboea](/source/Euboea)
- *[Sideritis hyssopifolia](/source/Sideritis_hyssopifolia)* L. - mountains of the [Iberian Peninsula](/source/Iberian_Peninsula)
- *[Sideritis lanata](/source/Sideritis_lanata)* L. - native to the [Balkans](/source/Balkans) - Bulgaria, Greece and parts of former Yugoslavia - and Turkey
- *[Sideritis leucantha](/source/Sideritis_leucantha)* Cav. - endemic to Spain
- *[Sideritis macrostachyos](/source/Sideritis_macrostachyos)* Poir. - endemic to the Canary Island of [Tenerife](/source/Tenerife), Spain
- *[Sideritis montana](/source/Sideritis_montana)* L. - native to [Eurasia](/source/Eurasia) from Spain to China, as well as the [Maghreb](/source/Maghreb)
- *[Sideritis purpurea](/source/Sideritis_purpurea)* Talb. - found in western Greece, the [Ionian Islands](/source/Ionian_Islands) and [Crete](/source/Crete)
- *[Sideritis pusilla](/source/Sideritis_pusilla)*
- *[Sideritis raiseri](/source/Sideritis_raiseri)* Boiss & Heldr - found in [Mount Tomori](/source/Mount_Tomorr), [Albania](/source/Albania)
- *[Sideritis romana](/source/Sideritis_romana)* L. - found in the [Mediterranean](/source/Mediterranean)
- *[Sideritis scardica](/source/Sideritis_scardica)* Gris. - native to the [Sharr Mountains](/source/Sharr_Mountains) extending from [Kosovo](/source/Kosovo) and [North Macedonia](/source/North_Macedonia) to Albania, as well as to Bulgaria and Greece
- *[Sideritis syriaca](/source/Sideritis_syriaca)* L., *S. cretica* Boiss, *S. boissieri* Magn. - found in Syria, Turkey and Crete and collectively known as Malotira (Μαλοτήρα)
- *[Sideritis theezans](/source/Sideritis_theezans)* Boiss & Heldr - found in the [Peloponnese](/source/Peloponnese)

Botanists have encountered difficulties in naming and classifying the varieties of *Sideritis* due to their subtle differences. One particularly confusing case is that of *S. angustifolia* Lagasca and *S. tragoriganum* Lagasca.[11]

## Botany

The genus is composed of short (8–50 cm), [xerophytic](/source/Xerophyte) [subshrubs](/source/Subshrub) or [herbs](/source/Herbaceous_plant), annual or perennial, that grow at high elevation (usually over 1000 m) with little or no soil, often on the surface of rocks.[2][5][12][13]

It is [pubescent](/source/Trichome), either villous or coated by a fine, woolly layer of microscopic intertwined hairs.

*Sideritis* [inflorescence](/source/Inflorescence) is verticillaster.[2][3]

## Uses

In [Albania](/source/Albania), [Bulgaria](/source/Bulgaria), [Greece](/source/Greece), [North Macedonia](/source/North_Macedonia), and [Turkey](/source/Turkey), *Sideritis scardica*, *[Sideritis clandestina](/source/Sideritis_clandestina)*, *Sideritis syriaca*, *[Sideritis perfoliata](/source/Sideritis_perfoliata)* and various other species from the section *Empedoclia* are used as herbs either for the preparation of herbal teas, or for their aromatic properties in local cuisines. The herbal tea is commonly prepared by [decoction](/source/Decoction), by boiling the stems, leaves and flowers in a pot of water, then often serving with honey and lemon.

Some plants in the genus have a history of use in traditional herbal medicine.[14] Research into the potential effects has taken place in universities in the Netherlands and in the southern Balkans where the plant is indigenous.[15]

Chemical constituents include [diterpenoids](/source/Diterpenoid) and [flavonoids](/source/Flavonoid).[16]

### Cultivation

*Sideritis raeseri* is the most commonly cultivated *Sideritis* in Albania, Bulgaria, Greece, and North Macedonia, where advanced hybrids also exist.[5] Planting is recommended during two periods (October–November or February–March in the Northern hemisphere) and gathering in July, when in full bloom. The plant is typically dried before usage.[17]

## References

1. , or ‘’’Mountain Tea’’’

1. ["Sideritis (Genus)"](https://web.archive.org/web/20131102104446/http://zipcodezoo.com/Key/Plantae/Sideritis_Genus.asp). Zipcodezoo.com. 2013-10-04. Archived from [the original](http://zipcodezoo.com/Key/Plantae/Sideritis_Genus.asp) on 2013-11-02. Retrieved 2013-11-30.

1. ["Τσάϊτουβουνού: ανασκόπησητηςδιεθνούςβιβλιογραφίαςτουγένουςSideritis"](http://www.iama.gr/ethno/sideritis/tsai_tou_vounou_files/Tsai_tou_vounou_Lora%20Prokou%20_%20Eleni_Skaltsa.pdf). *www.iama.gr*. Retrieved 2021-04-03.

1. Barber, Janet C. (2000). "Evolution of Endemic Sideritis (Lamiaceae) in Macaronesia: Insights from a Chloroplast DNA Restriction Site Analysis". *Systematic Botany*. **25** (4): 633–647. [doi:10.2307/2666725](https://doi.org/10.2307/2666725). [JSTOR 2666725](https://www.jstor.org/stable/2666725). [S2CID 86223380](https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:86223380)

1. ["Greek Mountain Tea - Tsai tou Vounou - Shepherd's Tea"](https://web.archive.org/web/20131102155602/http://greekfood.about.com/od/mezethesdrinks/a/tsaitouvounou.htm). Greekfood.about.com. 2013-11-13. Archived from [the original](http://greekfood.about.com/od/mezethesdrinks/a/tsaitouvounou.htm) on 2013-11-02. Retrieved 2013-11-30.

1. Itsiopoulos, Dr Catherine (2015-07-16). [*The Mediterranean Diet*](https://books.google.com/books?id=aqomCgAAQBAJ&pg=PA40). Macmillan Publishers Aus. ISBN 978-1-74353-944-6.

1. ["οικολογια ασπροποταμος"](https://web.archive.org/web/20120630185145/http://www.aspropotamos.org/ecology.htm). Aspropotamos.org. Archived from [the original](http://www.aspropotamos.org/ecology.htm) on 2012-06-30. Retrieved 2013-11-30.

1. Lindqvist, C. & Albert, V. A. (2002). "Origin of the Hawaiian endemic mints within North American Stachys (Lamiaceae)". *American Journal of Botany*. **89** (10): 1709–24. [doi:10.3732/ajb.89.10.1709](https://doi.org/10.3732/ajb.89.10.1709). [PMID 21665597](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21665597)

1. such as [Wikispecies](http://species.wikimedia.org/wiki/Sideritis), [ITIS](https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=32756) and [ZipcodeZoo](http://zipcodezoo.com/Key/Plantae/Sideritis_Genus.asp) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20131102104446/http://zipcodezoo.com/Key/Plantae/Sideritis_Genus.asp) 2013-11-02 at the Wayback Machine

1. Ina Aneva (2022). "Sideritis elica, a New Species of Lamiaceae from Bulgaria, Revealed by Morphology and Molecular Phylogeny". *Plants*. **11** (21): 2900. National Library of Medicine. [doi:10.3390/plants11212900](https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11212900). [PMC 9654456](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9654456). [PMID 36365353](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36365353)

1. Figuerola, R.; Stübing, G.; Peris, J. B. (1991). "Nomenclature and Typification of Sideritis angustifolia and S. tragoriganum (Lamiaceae, Spain)". *Taxon*. **40** (1): 123–9. [doi:10.2307/1222936](https://doi.org/10.2307/1222936). [JSTOR 1222936](https://www.jstor.org/stable/1222936)

1. ["τσάι του βουνου γενικές πληροφορίες"](http://www.mylona.gr/tea_information_greece.htm). Mylona.gr. Retrieved 2013-11-30.

1. Stephen Mifsud (2002-08-23). ["Wild Plants of Malta & Gozo - Plant: Sideritis romana (Common Siderits)"](http://www.maltawildplants.com/LABT/Sideritis_romana.php). Maltawildplants.com. Retrieved 2013-11-30.

1. Tadić, Vanja; Jeremic, Ivica; Dobric, Silva; Isakovic, Aleksandra; Markovic, Ivanka; Trajkovic, Vladimir; Bojovic, Dragica; Arsic, Ivana (2012). "Anti-inflammatory, Gastroprotective, and Cytotoxic Effects of Sideritis scardica Extracts". *Planta Medica*. **78** (5): 415–427. [doi:10.1055/s-0031-1298172](https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0031-1298172). [PMID 22274814](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22274814)

1. González-Burgos, E.; Carretero, M.E.; Gómez-Serranillos, M.P. (2011). "Sideritis spp.: Uses, chemical composition and pharmacological activities—A review". *Journal of Ethnopharmacology*. **135** (2): 209–25. [doi:10.1016/j.jep.2011.03.014](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2011.03.014). [PMID 21420484](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21420484)

1. Villar, A; Recio, MC; Ríos, JL; Zafra-Polo, MC (1986). "Antimicrobial activity of essential oils from Sideritis species". *Die Pharmazie*. **41** (4): 298–9. [PMID 3523549](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3523549)

1. ["ΚΑΛΛΙΕΡΓΕΙΑ, ΑΥΤΟΦΥΗΕΙ∆ΗΚΑΙΒΕΛΤΙΩΣΗΣΤΟΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΟΤΣΑΙΤΟΥΒΟΥΝΟΥ(Sideritis L.)."](http://www.iama.gr/ethno/sideritis/tsai_tou_vounou_files/Tsai_tou_vounou_Gkoliaris_Apostolos.pdf). *www.iama.gr*. Retrieved 2021-04-03.

## External links

- [Classification](https://plants.usda.gov/java/ClassificationServlet?source=display&classid=SIDER)

**Photos**:

- [*S. romana*](http://www.homolaicus.com/scienza/erbario/10000foto/sideritis_romana.htm)
- [*S. lanata*](http://www.west-crete.com/flowers/sideritis_syriaca.htm)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Sideritis](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sideritis) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sideritis?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.