Ciliated German Pellitory vs Common Feverfew

Anacyclus ciliatus compared with Tanacetum parthenium

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Ciliated German Pellitory	Common Feverfew
Kingdom same	Plantae (Plants)	Plantae (Plants)
Phylum same	Magnoliophyta (Flowering Plants)	Magnoliophyta (Flowering Plants)
Class same	Magnoliopsida (Dicots)	Magnoliopsida (Dicots)
Order same	Asterales (Daisies & Sunflowers)	Asterales (Daisies & Sunflowers)
Family same	Asteraceae (Daisy Family)	Asteraceae (Daisy Family)
Genus	Anacyclus	Tanacetum
Species	Anacyclus ciliatus	Tanacetum parthenium

Evolutionary Relationship

Ciliated German Pellitory and Common Feverfew share a common ancestor at the Family level: Asteraceae. (Daisy Family)

Conservation Status

Ciliated German Pellitory

LC — Least Concern

Common Feverfew

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Ciliated German Pellitory	Common Feverfew
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Ciliated German Pellitory

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial habitats from tropical forests to temperate regions.

Common Feverfew

Habitat

Inhabits Mediterranean forests and woodlands within the Palearctic biogeographic realm.

Range

Widely distributed across Asia (Cyprus, India, Japan), Europe (27 countries), North America (Canada, Mexico, United States), Oceania and the Pacific (Australia), and South America (6 countries).

Ciliated German Pellitory

Ciliated German pellitory (Anacyclus ciliatus) is an annual or short-lived perennial herb in the family Asteraceae, native to the Mediterranean Basin. It produces prostrate to ascending stems bearing finely divided, feathery leaves and daisy-like flower heads with white ray florets and a yellow disc. The species grows in dry, open habitats such as rocky slopes, garrigue, abandoned fields, roadsides, and coastal scrub, preferring calcareous soils with low fertility and good drainage. Its distribution spans southern Europe, North Africa, and the Near East, encompassing the core of the Mediterranean climatic zone. Anacyclus ciliatus is classified as Least Concern, with widespread populations across its native range. The genus Anacyclus includes several species with similar morphology, and its taxonomy has been subject to revision. Like many Mediterranean annuals, ciliated German pellitory completes its life cycle during the cool, wet winter and spring months, producing abundant seed before the summer drought. It is a component of traditional Mediterranean dry grassland and rocky vegetation communities. Some Anacyclus species have been investigated for medicinal properties, particularly root extracts showing anti-inflammatory and analgesic activity. Conservation of Mediterranean garrigue and dry grassland habitats benefits this species alongside many other endemic plants of the region.

Common Feverfew

Common Feverfew (<em>Tanacetum parthenium</em>) is a flowering herbaceous plant belonging to the genus Tanacetum within the family Asteraceae. It is characterised by its aromatic foliage and clusters of small daisy-like flowers with white ray petals surrounding yellow disc florets. The species typically inhabits Mediterranean forests and woodlands within the Palearctic biogeographic realm, and is also often found in disturbed habitats, roadsides, walls, and garden margins. Its geographic range is exceptionally wide, spanning Asia including Cyprus, India, and Japan, 27 European countries, North America including Canada, Mexico, and the United States, Australia, and multiple South American countries. <em>Tanacetum parthenium</em> is assessed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. The plant has a long history of medicinal use, particularly in the treatment of migraines and fevers, from which its common name derives. Biological traits including average lifespan and detailed ecological data remain poorly documented in the scientific literature, though it typically grows as a short-lived perennial or biennial.