CISTUS INCANUS: CHARACTERISTICS, HABITAT, CARE, DISEASES - BIOLOGY - 2025

The Cistus incanus is a shrub of the Cistaceae family, commonly known as gray rockrose, male cyst or thin jagz. It is an evergreen shrubby plant that is a little over 1 m tall.

Its appearance is very similar to that of Cistus albidus due to the color of its flowers, but it differs from this species because the leaves of the gray rockrose are smaller, with a grayish color and with more wavy edges.

Cistus incanus. Source: Iorsh at en.wikipedia

Likewise, this shrub is highly branched, its leaves covered with greyish-white trichomes, its flowers are lilac-pink and have abundant orange anthers. The flowers have 5 sepals and 5 petals. Its fruit is a hairy capsule, which contains many seeds inside.

Gray rockrose plants grow in dry soil conditions, in fields and hard shoulders in the Mediterranean basin of Europe. It is found in places like southern Europe, Spain, Portugal, Morocco, and Algeria. Thus, it is a species that is also found in Sicily, Corsica, on the Italian peninsula, in North Africa, on the southern and eastern coasts of the Black Sea and the Crimea.

With regard to environmental conditions, it is distributed between 50 and 650 meters above sea level. It requires low humidity, high luminosity, well-drained soils and the optimal pH ranges from neutral to alkaline.

Gray rockrose is well known for containing several flavonoids that produce positive effects such as gastroprotective, anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic, antiviral and anti-tumor.

Interestingly, the Cistus incanus species has been studied for its valuable effect on the control of the influenza virus. In this sense, this plant has been considered a "target" species to control the spread of the influenza virus, since its mechanism of action is to inhibit neurominidase, a compound that is a structural part of the viral capsule and that it allows the virus to spread and attack new hosts.

characteristics

Stem

The Cistus incanus species has an evergreen shrub-like stem with short, highly branched and crowded branches. The branches have long intermixed trichomes. The bush is between 30 and 140 cm high and 30 to 140 cm wide.

Gray rockrose leaves. Source: André Karwath aka Aka

Leaves

The leaves of this Cistus are sessile, that is, without a petiole. The shape of the leaves is ovate-spatulate, obtuse and slightly attenuated towards the base.

As in other Cistus species, the leaf is trinervated and its appearance is rough, wavy and reticulated.

flowers

For their part, the flowers are supported by short and thick peduncles. These flowers have 5 ovate and sharp sepals, which are lined with abundant short trichomes.

As for the petals, it also has 5 obovate, imbricated, wavy and wrinkled petals. The color of the flower is light lilac-pink with a soft yellow spot near the base. The stamens are very numerous and are found surrounding the stigma.

These stamens are long, thin, smooth filaments and contain bright pale yellow pollen. Meanwhile, the style exceeds the length of the stamens.

Fruit

The fruit of this plant is hairy capsule type and is full of seeds.

Cistus incanus capsules. Source: Gideon Pisanty (Gidip)

Taxonomy

The Cistus incanus shrub is known by other names such as: Cistus albatus, Cistus bornetii, Cistus canescens, Cistus ferreri, Cistus delilei, Cistus mercedis, Cistus novus, Cistus pratii, Cistus villosus var. incanus, Cistus villosus subsp. incanus, and Cistus vulgaris var. incanus. Regarding its taxonomic classification, the following is known:

Kingdom: Plantae

Phylum: Tracheophyta

Class: Magnoliopsida

Subclass: Magnoliidae

Superorder: Rosanae

Order: Malvales

Family: Cistaceae

Genus: Cistus

Species: Cistus incanus L. (1753).

Lilac-pink flower of Cistus incanus. Source: Assianir

Habitat and distribution

It is a well distributed shrub in places like southern Europe, Spain, Portugal, Morocco and Algeria. It is also a species found in Sicily, Corsica, on the Italian peninsula, in North Africa, on the southern and eastern coasts of the Black Sea, and the Crimea.

It is also present especially in Menorca on limestone scrub and sandy soils. With respect to the Iberian Peninsula, it is only located in places like Albacete and Valencia.

Regarding the climatic requirements, the gray rockrose is distributed between 50 and 650 meters above sea level, requires low humidity, limestone soils and good drainage. Whereas, the optimum pH tends to be alkaline. The minimum temperature it supports is between -12.2 and -6.7 ° C.

In general, it is well established in dry soils, in scrublands, in fields and verges of the Mediterranean basin.

Properties

The Cistus incanus species has been experimentally tested to observe its protective effect on DNA division, in addition to its control over free radicals. In this sense, it was achieved that this plant exerts a protective effect on them; however, its effect is less active than that of the C. monspeliensis species.

On the other hand, the effects of C. incanus extracts have been attributed to the presence of condensed tannins. In this species, numerous chemical compounds identified as catechin, gallocatechin and procyanidin have also been obtained.

In the same way, this plant has shown gastroprotective effects, as has been reported by several of its flavonoids.

For their part, flavonoids have shown various biological activities such as anti-inflammatory, antiallergic, antiviral and antitumor.

Epidemiological studies have shown a correlation between the high content of bioflavonoids in the diet and a low risk of cancer and cardiovascular diseases. These effects are related to the protective capacity of flavonoids against free radicals.

Biopolyphenols have shown interference not only in the propagation of the reaction, but also in the formation of free radicals, due to the chelation of transition metals, or due to inhibition of enzymes involved in the initiation reaction.

Shrub of Cistus incanus. Source: Friviere

Reactive oxygen species or free radicals, both endogenous and exogenous, can be involved in different degenerative and neurodegenerative human diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, as well as others such as cancer. In particular, radical damage to DNA is involved in carcinogenesis.

Effect on the influenza virus

The rockrose flower is one of the European species with the highest content of polyphenols. In addition, it has immunomodulatory properties, which means that it acts on the immune system.

According to this latest information, the key to the mode of action of Cistus incanus lies in its potential to inhibit neuraminidase.

This compound is a structural part of the outer covering or capsid of the influenza virus, which allows it to escape and disperse once the new viruses are released from infected cells. Therefore, this species is considered a “target” to control the spread of the influenza virus.

Method of preparation and intake

To consume this plant you must make use of the leaves, which contain the highest amount of chemicals with high health benefits.

For this, the leaves are prepared to make capsules, spray or also tea. The latter is the most common way to ingest the male cyst.

Cistus incanus tea is prepared by adding a full tablespoon of tea or dried leaves of this plant to a cup of boiling water. Let it rest between 8 and 10 minutes, strain it and drink the tea immediately.

For its part, Cistus incanus capsules are quite concentrated in terms of leaf content, so it is advisable to only take one capsule, maximum 2 times a day.

On the other hand, the spray that is prepared from the leaves of the male cyst is used to spray the throat. These sprays are recommended to be done 3 times a day, making a maximum of 3 sprays each time after brushing your teeth.

Until now, no collateral effects have been corroborated by the use of Cistus incanus, and there are no contraindications. However, if it is to be used by pregnant women, it must be under medical supervision.

Care

The male cyst is a plant used in gardening that does not require great maintenance. It is grown in groups of bushes and rockery. Regarding the planting density, 3 to 4 plants are planted per square meter. They are suitable species to adapt to coastal areas.

The care of these plants with respect to their maintenance in gardening are the following:

- Tolerates pruning as long as they are not drastic. Pruning should preferably be done at the end of flowering to keep the plant compact and more vigorous.

- It needs to be located in an area with little irrigation or to be planted in soils with good drainage, as they do not support waterlogging conditions.

- Plantings in midsummer should be avoided.

- It must be exposed directly to the sun to avoid malformations in the growth of the stem.

Diseases

Like most plants of the genus Cistus, it is quite resistant to the attack of diseases and pests. However, it can be attacked by fungi that thrive in conditions of high soil moisture. Therefore, these plants do not withstand conditions of waterlogging of the substrate and must have good drainage.

References

1. Ataguile, G., Russo, A., Campisi, A., Savoca, F., Acquaviva, R., Ragusa, N., Vanella, A. 2000. Antioxidant activity and protective effect on DNA cleavage of extracts from Cistus incanus L. and Cistus monspeliensis L. Cell Biology ad Toxicology, 16 (2): 83-90.
2. Sweet, R. 1825. Cistineae. The Natural Order of Cistus, Or Rock-rose. Holding Institution: University of California Libraries. page 44. Taken from: books.google.co.ve
3. Infosalus. 2009. An extract of the rockrose flower can prevent and treat viral diseases such as the flu, according to study. Taken from: infosalus.com
4. Catalog of Life: 2019 Annual Checklist. Species details: Cistus incanus L. Taken from: catalogueoflife.org
5. Carex Vivers. 2019. Cistus incanus. Taken from: carex.cat
6. Cistus incanus: plant that strengthens immunity. 2019. Taken from: es.odysseedubienetre.be
7. Green area. 2019. Gray rockrose (Cistus incanus). Taken from: zonaverde.net