Chamaeleon gummifer

Life-forms

Classification System: APG IV

Superregnum: Eukaryota
Regnum: Plantae
Cladus: Angiosperms
Cladus: Eudicots
Cladus: Core eudicots
Cladus: Asterids
Cladus: Campanulids
Ordo: Asterales

Familia: Asteraceae
Subfamilia: Carduoideae
Tribus: Cardueae
Subtribus: Carlininae
Genus: Chamaeleon
Species: Chamaeleon gummifer
Name

Chamaeleon gummifer (L.) Cass. in Cuvier, Dict. Sci. Nat. 50: 59. (1827)
Synonyms

Basionym
Atractylis gummifera L.. Sp. Pl. 2: 829. (1753)
Homotypic
Carthamus gummiferus (L.) Lam., Encycl. [J. Lamarck & al.] 1(2): 639. (1785)
Acarna gummifera (L.) Willd., Sp. Pl., ed. 4 [Willdenow] 3(3): 1699. (1803)
Cirsellium gummiferum (L.) Brot., Fl. Lusit. 1: 346. (1804)
Carlina gummifera (L.) Less., Gen. Cynaroceph.: 12. (Jul-Aug 1832)
Heterotypic
Atractylis macrocephala Desf., Fl. Atlant. 2: 255. (1799)
Carlina fontanesii DC., Prodr. 6: 548. (1838) nom. nov.
Carlina macrocephala (Desf.) Less. Gen. Cynaroceph.: 12. (1832) nom. illeg. non Moris
Chamaeleon megacephalus Cass. in Cuvier, Dict. Sci. Nat. 50: 59. (1827) nom. illeg.
Atractylis nemotoiana Arènes, Bull. Inst. Franc. Afr. Noire, 15: 65. (1953)

References

Cassini, A.H.G. de 1827. Dictionnaire des Sciences Naturelles 50: 59.
Hassler, M. 2021. Chamaeleon gummifer. World Plants: Synonymic Checklists of the Vascular Plants of the World In: Roskovh, Y., Abucay, L., Orrell, T., Nicolson, D., Bailly, N., Kirk, P., Bourgoin, T., DeWalt, R.E., Decock, W., De Wever, A., Nieukerken, E. van, Zarucchi, J. & Penev, L., eds. 2021. Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of Life. Published on the internet. Accessed: 2021 Apr. 14. Reference page.
Govaerts, R. et al. 2021. Chamaeleon gummifer in Kew Science Plants of the World online. The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published on the internet. Accessed: 2021 Apr. 14. Reference page.
International Plant Names Index. 2013. Chamaeleon gummifer. Published online. Accessed: 24 September 2013.
Euro+Med 2006 onwards: Chamaeleon gummifer in Euro+Med PlantBase – the information resource for Euro-Mediterranean plant diversity. Published on the internet. Accessed: 2018 May 2. as Carlina gummifera

Chamaeleon gummifer, also known as distaff thistle or stemless atractylis, is a thistle in the Chamaeleon genus. Formerly, it was placed in the Atractylis genus.[1] It is native to the Mediterranean basin, where it can be found in various habitats, including cultivated- or uncultivated fields and forests.[3][1] It is a perennial herb producing a stemless, pinkish flower. The plant has a history of use in folk medicine, but it is very toxic due to the presence of atractyloside and carboxyatractyloside.[4]

Description
Two Chamaeleon gummifer plants showing inflorescence and dried-out leaves

Chamaeleon gummifer is a perennial thistle with a long rhizome extending up to 40 cm and spiky leaves emanating from its center.[5][4] A pinkish inflorescence grows in the center, seen as a capitulum consisting of many small threadlike flowers.[4] The inflorescence is surrounded by spiny bracts.[5] Unusual compared to other thistles is the fact that the inflorescence of Chamaeleon gummifer does not grow on a stem. The ripe fruit of the plant may ooze a white or yellowish gummy latex produced by the rhizome.[4] Chamaeleon gummifer flowers in late summer or early autumn.[3]
Distribution

Chamaeleon gummifer can be found along the Mediterranean basin, including Northern Africa, the Iberian Peninsula, Italy, Greece and Malta.[1][3] It grows in various habitats and on various substrates, including in cultivated- or uncultivated fields, shrublands, forests and in rocklands.[1] It is rated as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.[1]
Toxicity

The toxicity of Chamaeleon gummifer is thought to be caused by two related glycosides, atractyloside and carboxyatractyloside.[4] In Morocco, Chamaeleon gummifer is a common cause of plant poisoning, with children being especially vulnerable to severe effects.[6] Accidental ingestion of the plant can be due to confusion with the artichoke thistle, or due to use of its gummy discharge as a chewing gum.[6] Fatal cases of poisoning are not uncommon, even with treatment of symptoms.[6][7] At least 98 fatalities occurred due to Chamaeleon gummifer poisoning in Morocco between 1981 and 2004, most of whom were children under the age of 16.[8] Severe cases may be associated with liver and kidney failure.[9][7] There is currently no specific treatment to poisoning by Chamaeleon gummifer.[4]
References

Rankou, Hassan; Taleb, Mohammed; Ouhammou, Ahmed; Martin, Gary (2014-01-27). "IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Carlina gummifera". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Retrieved 2021-04-08.
"Chamaeleon gummifer (L.) Cass". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 2 May 2021.
"A thistle in the daisy family". Times of Malta. Retrieved 2021-04-07.
Daniele, C.; Dahamna, S.; Firuzi, O.; Sekfali, N.; Saso, L.; Mazzanti, G. (2005-02-28). "Atractylis gummifera L. poisoning: an ethnopharmacological review". Journal of Ethnopharmacology. 97 (2): 175–181. doi:10.1016/j.jep.2004.11.025. ISSN 0378-8741. PMID 15707749. Retrieved 2021-04-07.
Mifsud, Stephen (2002-08-23). "Atractylis gummifera (Stemless Atractylis) : MaltaWildPlants.com - the online Flora of the Maltese Islands" (Web Page). Retrieved 2021-04-09.
Achour, S.; Rhalem, N.; Elfakir, S.; Khattabi, A.; Nejjari, C.; Mokhtari, A.; Soulaymani, A.; Soulaymani, R. (November 2013). "Prognostic factors of Atractylis gummifera L. poisoning, Morocco". Eastern Mediterranean Health Journal. 19 (11): 953–959. doi:10.26719/2013.19.11.953. ISSN 1020-3397. PMID 24673087.
Hamouda, C.; Hédhili, A.; Ben Salah, N.; Zhioua, M.; Amamou, M. (June 2004). "A review of acute poisoning from Atractylis gummifera L". Veterinary and Human Toxicology. 46 (3): 144–146. ISSN 0145-6296. PMID 15171492.
Hami, H.; Soulaymani, A.; Skalli, S.; Mokhtari, A.; Sefiani, H.; Soulaymani, R. (2011-02-01). "Intoxication par Atractylis gummifera L. Données du centre antipoison et de pharmacovigilance du Maroc". Bulletin de la Société de pathologie exotique. 104 (1): 53–57. doi:10.1007/s13149-010-0102-8. ISSN 1961-9049. PMID 21243460. Retrieved 2021-04-09.
Georgiou, M.; D, Biol; Sianidou, L.; Hatzis, T.; Papadatos, J.; Koutselinis, A. (1988-01-01). "Hepatotoxicity due to atractylis gummifera-L". Journal of Toxicology: Clinical Toxicology. 26 (7): 487–493. doi:10.3109/15563658809038564. ISSN 0731-3810. PMID 3230599. Retrieved 2021-04-07.