Details Top

Internal ID UUID6440117c27cd1986969242
Scientific name Cistus albidus
Authority L.
First published in Sp. Pl. : 524 (1753)

Ethnobotanical Use Top

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General Uses Top

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Common products:
The primary commercial products derived from Cistus albidus are a sticky, amber‑coloured gum resin (commonly called labdanum) and the steam‑distilled essential oil obtained from that resin. Both are supplied to the fragrance industry under the designation “rock‑rose labdanum”.

Industrial and craft applications:
Labdanum resin is used as a base‑note fixative in fine‑perfume composition and as a raw material for incense sticks and cones. The resin can also be incorporated into natural incense blends, where its slow‑burning, resinous character provides depth and longevity.

Fragrance and cosmetics:
The essential oil of Cistus albidus (labdanum oil) is employed in perfume bases, soap formulations, and cosmetic creams. Its warm, ambergris‑like scent contributes a fixative effect, slowing the evaporation of more volatile fragrance components.

Properties relevant to use:
The plant’s resinous exudate contains 15–30 % non‑volatile material (by dry weight), consisting mainly of labdane‑type diterpenes such as labd‑15‑ol and labdenyl acetate. These constituents give the oil a high boiling point, good solubility in ethanol and other fragrance solvents, and a strong fixative capacity. The oil typically exhibits specific gravity 0.95–1.02, refractive index 1.48–1.52, and acid value 2–8 mg KOH g⁻¹, values that are used to assess its quality.

Standards and regulation:
Commercial labdanum and its oil are subject to the International Fragrance Association (IFRA) standards, which set maximum use levels and purity criteria. Quality control of the oil follows ISO 11014 for the determination of physical and chemical parameters. Within the European Union, the use of labdanum in cosmetics is regulated under the Cosmetic Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009, requiring safety assessment and proper labeling of any derived ingredients.

Sustainability and sourcing:
Labdanum is harvested from wild Mediterranean maquis where Cistus albidus grows. Sustainable wildcrafting guidelines recommend limited harvest per shrub, rotation of collection sites, and avoidance of plants in early growth stages. To reduce pressure on natural stands, the species is increasingly cultivated in low‑input, drought‑tolerant plantations, allowing a more consistent supply while preserving wild populations.

Synonyms Top

Scientific name Authority First published in
Cistus albidus var. anthyllidetorum O.Bolòs & Vigo Butl. Inst. Catalana Hist. Nat., Secc. Bot. 38(1): 79 (1974)
Cistus albereensis Gaut. ex Rouy & Foucaud Fl. France 2: 268 (1895)
Cistus albidus var. albus O.E.Warb. J. Hort. Soc. London 55: 24 (1930)
Cistus vulgaris var. albidus (L.) Steud. Nomencl. Bot. , ed. 2, 1: 375 (1840)
Cistus albeerensis var. barcinonensis Sennen Monde Pl. 32: 24 (1931)
Cistus albidus var. angustifolius Sennen Monde Pl. 32: 23 (1931)
Cistus albidus var. attenuatifolius Sennen Monde Pl. 32: 23 (1931)
Cistus albidus var. grandifolius Sennen Monde Pl. 32: 23 (1931)
Cistus albidus var. latifolius Sennen Monde Pl. 32: 23 (1931)
Cistus albidus var. longifolius Sennen Monde Pl. 32: 23 (1931)
Cistus albidus var. microcarpus Pau Exsicc. (Pl. Esp.) 1928: n.° 6513 (1929)
Cistus albidus var. parvifolius Sennen Monde Pl. 32: 23 (1931)
Cistus albidus f. platyphyllus Sennen Bol. Soc. Aragonesa Ci. Nat. 10: 134 (1911)
Cistus albidus var. stenophyllus Sennen Monde Pl. 32: 23 (1931)
Cistus albidus f. typicus Dans. Boissiera 4: 48 (1939)
Cistus vulgaris var. sessilifolius Spach Hist. Nat. Vég. 6: 88 (1838)
Cistus albidus f. albus (O.E.Warb.) Dans. Boissiera 4: 48 (1939)

Common names Top

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Language Common/alternative name
Spanish estepa mosquera
Spanish jara blanquecina
Spanish jaraestopa
Spanish jogarzo blanco
Arabic قريضة مبيضة
Azerbaijani ağımtıl buxurkolu
Catalan estepa blanca
Catalan estrepa
Catalan estepera
Catalan estépara blanca
Catalan estépara
Catalan estepa margalida
Catalan estepa d'escurar
Catalan bordiol
Catalan argenti blanc
German weißliche zistrose
Basque estrepa zuri
Finnish ruusukistus
oc moja blanca
Chinese 白毛岩蔷薇

Subspecies (abbr. subsp./ssp.) Top

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Varieties (abbr. var.) Top

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Subvarieties (abbr. subvar.) Top

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Forms (abbr. f.) Top

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Germination/Propagation Top

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Distribution (via POWO/KEW) Top

Legend for the distribution data:
- Doubtful data
- Extinct
- Introduced
- Native
  • Europe
    • Southeastern Europe
      • Italy
    • Southwestern Europe
      • Baleares
      • Corse
      • France
      • Portugal
      • Sardegna
      • Spain

Links to other databases Top

Suggest others/fix!
Database ID/link to page
World Flora Online wfo-0000607197
Tropicos 7600137
INPN 91630
Flora of Italy 3230
KEW urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:168163-1
The Plant List kew-2723264
Open Tree Of Life 228845
Observations.org 116578
NCBI Taxonomy 335163
NBN Atlas NBNSYS0200003565
IPNI 168163-1
iNaturalist 82673
GBIF 7331435
EPPO CSTAL
EOL 2865595
Elurikkus 209740
USDA GRIN 10630
Wikipedia Cistus_albidus
Tropicos 100311989
KEW urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:168162-1
The Plant List kew-2723263
Open Tree Of Life 6114506
IPNI 168162-1
GBIF 3596339

Genomes (via NCBI) Top

No reference genome is available on NCBI yet. We are constantly monitoring for new data.

Scientific Literature Top

Below are displayed the latest 15 articles published in PMC (PubMed Central®) and other sources (DOI number only)!
If you wish to see all the related articles click here.
Title Authors Publication Released IDs
Efficacy and Tolerability of a Scutellaria lateriflora L. and Cistus × incanus L.-Based Chewing Gum on the Symptoms of Gingivitis: A Monocentric, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial Di Minno A, Ullah H, De Lellis LF, Buccato DG, Baldi A, Cuomo P, El-Seedi HR, Khalifa SA, Xiao X, Piccinocchi R, Piccinocchi G, Sacchi R, Daglia M Nutrients 16-Mar-2024
PMCID:PMC10975933
doi:10.3390/nu16060862
PMID:38542772
Long-Term Monitoring of the Traditional Knowledge of Plant Species Used for Culinary Purposes in the Valencia Region, South-Eastern Spain Belda A, Jordán-Nuñez J, Micó-Vicent B, López-Rodríguez D Plants (Basel) 08-Mar-2024
PMCID:PMC10975046
doi:10.3390/plants13060775
PMID:38592810
Chemical profiling of volatile compounds of the essential oil of grey-leaved rockrose (Cistus albidus L.) and its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antifungal, and anticancer activity in vitro and in silico Elbouzidi A, Taibi M, Laaraj S, Loukili EH, Haddou M, El Hachlafi N, Naceiri Mrabti H, Baraich A, Bellaouchi R, Asehraou A, Bourhia M, Nafidi HA, Bin Jardan YA, Chaabane K, Addi M Front Chem 15-Feb-2024
PMCID:PMC10905769
doi:10.3389/fchem.2024.1334028
PMID:38435667
Fungal Planet description sheets: 1550–1613 Crous PW, Costa MM, Kandemir H, Vermaas M, Vu D, Zhao L, Arumugam E, Flakus A, Jurjević Ž, Kaliyaperumal M, Mahadevakumar S, Murugadoss R, Shivas RG, Tan YP, Wingfield MJ, Abell SE, Marney TS, Danteswari C, Darmostuk V, Denchev CM, Denchev TT, Etayo J, Gené J, Gunaseelan S, Hubka V, Illescas T, Jansen GM, Kezo K, Kumar S, Larsson E, Mufeeda KT, Piątek M, Rodriguez-Flakus P, Sarma PV, Stryjak-Bogacka M, Torres-Garcia D, Vauras J, Acal DA, Akulov A, Alhudaib K, Asif M, Balashov S, Baral HO, Baturo-Cieśniewska A, Begerow D, Beja-Pereira A, Bianchinotti MV, Bilański P, Chandranayaka S, Chellappan N, Cowan DA, Custódio FA, Czachura P, Delgado G, De Silva NI, Dijksterhuis J, Dueñas M, Eisvand P, Fachada V, Fournier J, Fritsche Y, Fuljer F, Ganga KG, Guerra MP, Hansen K, Hywel-Jones N, Ismail AM, Jacobs CR, Jankowiak R, Karich A, Kemler M, Kisło K, Klofac W, Krisai-Greilhuber I, Latha KP, Lebeuf R, Lopes ME, Lumyong S, Maciá-Vicente JG, Maggs-Kölling G, Magistà D, Manimohan P, Martín MP, Mazur E, Mehrabi-Koushki M, Miller AN, Mombert A, Ossowska EA, Patejuk K, Pereira OL, Piskorski S, Plaza M, Podile AR, Polhorský A, Pusz W, Raza M, Ruszkiewicz-Michalska M, Saba M, Sánchez RM, Singh R, Śliwa L, Smith ME, Stefenon VM, Strasiftáková D, Suwannarach N, Szczepańska K, Telleria MT, Tennakoon DS, Thines M, Thorn RG, Urbaniak J, van der Vegte M, Vasan V, Vila-Viçosa C, Voglmayr H, Wrzosek M, Zappelini J, Groenewald JZ Persoonia 30-Dec-2023
PMCID:PMC11041897
doi:10.3767/persoonia.2023.51.08
PMID:38665977
Mediterranean Shrub Species as a Source of Biomolecules against Neurodegenerative Diseases Chaves N, Nogales L, Montero-Fernández I, Blanco-Salas J, Alías JC Molecules 16-Dec-2023
PMCID:PMC10745362
doi:10.3390/molecules28248133
PMID:38138621
Update of the Xylella spp. host plant database – systematic literature search up to 30 June 2023 Gibin D, Gutierrez Linares A, Fasanelli E, Pasinato L, Delbianco A EFSA J 15-Dec-2023
PMCID:PMC10722330
doi:10.2903/j.efsa.2023.8477
PMID:38107375
Postfire biodiversity database for eastern Iberia Pausas JG, Álvarez-Ruiz L, Baz A, Belliure J, Benítez G, Ferrer-Gallego PP, Herrando-Pérez S, Jiménez JN, Laguna E, Mínguez E, Montagud S, Outerelo R, Roca V, Santos X, Velázquez de Castro AJ, Viñolas A, Cifuentes J, Gilgado JD Sci Data 06-Dec-2023
PMCID:PMC10700513
doi:10.1038/s41597-023-02794-9
PMID:38057322
Using Mediterranean Native Plants for the Phytoremediation of Mining Sites: An Overview of the Past and Present, and Perspectives for the Future Boi ME, Fois M, Podda L, Porceddu M, Bacchetta G Plants (Basel) 10-Nov-2023
PMCID:PMC10674270
doi:10.3390/plants12223823
PMID:38005720
A 12-Year Experimental Design to Test the Recovery of Butterfly Biodiversity in an Urban Ecosystem: Lessons from the Parc Urbain des Papillons Deschamps-Cottin M, Jacek G, Seguinel L, Le Champion C, Robles C, Ternisien M, Duque C, Vila B Insects 24-Sep-2023
PMCID:PMC10607803
doi:10.3390/insects14100780
PMID:37887792
The role of plant growth promoting rhizobacteria in plant drought stress responses Chieb M, Gachomo EW BMC Plant Biol 25-Aug-2023
PMCID:PMC10464363
doi:10.1186/s12870-023-04403-8
PMID:37626328
Mediterranean Plants as Potential Source of Biopesticides: An Overview of Current Research and Future Trends Fragkouli R, Antonopoulou M, Asimakis E, Spyrou A, Kosma C, Zotos A, Tsiamis G, Patakas A, Triantafyllidis V Metabolites 22-Aug-2023
PMCID:PMC10535963
doi:10.3390/metabo13090967
PMID:37755247
Cistus albidus L.—Review of a Traditional Mediterranean Medicinal Plant with Pharmacological Potential Raus de Baviera D, Ruiz-Canales A, Barrajón-Catalán E Plants (Basel) 18-Aug-2023
PMCID:PMC10458491
doi:10.3390/plants12162988
PMID:37631199
Fungal Planet description sheets: 1478–1549 Crous PW, Osieck ER, Shivas RG, Tan YP, Bishop-Hurley SL, Esteve-Raventós F, Larsson E, Luangsa-ard JJ, Pancorbo F, Balashov S, Baseia IG, Boekhout T, Chandranayaka S, Cowan DA, Cruz RH, Czachura P, De la Peña-Lastra S, Dovana F, Drury B, Fell J, Flakus A, Fotedar R, Jurjević Ž, Kolecka A, Mack J, Maggs-Kölling G, Mahadevakumar S, Mateos A, Mongkolsamrit S, Noisripoom W, Plaza M, Overy DP, Piątek M, Sandoval-Denis M, Vauras J, Wingfield MJ, Abell SE, Ahmadpour A, Akulov A, Alavi F, Alavi Z, Altés A, Alvarado P, Anand G, Ashtekar N, Assyov B, Banc-Prandi G, Barbosa KD, Barreto GG, Bellanger JM, Bezerra JL, Bhat DJ, Bilański P, Bose T, Bozok F, Chaves J, Costa-Rezende DH, Danteswari C, Darmostuk V, Delgado G, Denman S, Eichmeier A, Etayo J, Eyssartier G, Faulwetter S, Ganga KG, Ghosta Y, Goh J, Góis JS, Gramaje D, Granit L, Groenewald M, Gulden G, Gusmão LF, Hammerbacher A, Heidarian Z, Hywel-Jones N, Jankowiak R, Kaliyaperumal M, Kaygusuz O, Kezo K, Khonsanit A, Kumar S, Kuo CH, Læssøe T, Latha KP, Loizides M, Luo SM, Maciá-Vicente JG, Manimohan P, Marbach PA, Marinho P, Marney TS, Marques G, Martín MP, Miller AN, Mondello F, Moreno G, Mufeeda KT, Mun HY, Nau T, Nkomo T, Okrasińska A, Oliveira JP, Oliveira RL, Ortiz DA, Pawłowska J, Pérez-De-Gregorio MÀ, Podile AR, Portugal A, Privitera N, Rajeshkumar KC, Rauf I, Rian B, Rigueiro-Rodríguez A, Rivas-Torres GF, Rodriguez-Flakus P, Romero-Gordillo M, Saar I, Saba M, Santos CD, Sarma PV, Siquier JL, Sleiman S, Spetik M, Sridhar KR, Stryjak-Bogacka M, Szczepańska K, Taşkın H, Tennakoon DS, Thanakitpipattana D, Trovão J, Türkekul İ, van Iperen AL, van ’t Hof P, Vasquez G, Visagie CM, Wingfield BD, Wong PT, Yang WX, Yarar M, Yarden O, Yilmaz N, Zhang N, Zhu YN, Groenewald JZ Persoonia 29-Jun-2023
PMCID:PMC10983837
doi:10.3767/persoonia.2023.50.05
PMID:38567263
Update of the Xylella spp. host plant database – systematic literature search up to 31 December 2022 Gibin D, Pasinato L, Delbianco A EFSA J 13-Jun-2023
PMCID:PMC10262070
doi:10.2903/j.efsa.2023.8061
PMID:37325259
Potentially harmful elements pollute soil and vegetation around the Atrevida mine (Tarragona, NE Spain) Roca-Perez L, Boluda R, Rodríguez-Martín JA, Ramos-Miras J, Tume P, Roca N, Bech J Environ Geochem Health 20-May-2023
PMCID:PMC10673966
doi:10.1007/s10653-023-01591-y
PMID:37209325

Phytochemical Profile Top

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Below are displayed the proven (via scientific papers) natural compounds!
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Name PubChem ID Canonical SMILES MW Found in Proof
> Hydrocarbons / Saturated hydrocarbons / Alkanes
Docosane 12405 Click to see CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC 310.60 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(97)01124-2
Pentacosane 12406 Click to see 352.70 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(97)01124-2
> Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Sesquiterpenoids
(-)-alpha-Curcumene 442360 Click to see 202.33 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(97)01124-2
(1R,4S,4aR)-1,6-dimethyl-4-propan-2-yl-3,4,4a,7,8,8a-hexahydro-2H-naphthalen-1-ol 5315592 Click to see 222.37 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(97)01124-2
(2R)-6-methyl-2-(4-methylcyclohex-3-en-1-yl)hept-5-en-2-ol 6506009 Click to see CC1=CCC(CC1)C(C)(CCC=C(C)C)O 222.37 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(97)01124-2
3a-Methyl-6-methylidene-1-(propan-2-yl)decahydrocyclobuta(1,2-a:3,4-a')dicyclopentene 324224 Click to see 204.35 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(97)01124-2
alpha-Bisabolol 10586 Click to see CC1=CCC(CC1)C(C)(CCC=C(C)C)O 222.37 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(97)01124-2
alpha-Cadinol 10398656 Click to see CC1=CC2C(CCC(C2CC1)(C)O)C(C)C 222.37 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(97)01124-2
beta-Bourbonene 62566 Click to see 204.35 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(97)01124-2
Cadina-1(10),4-diene 10223 Click to see CC1=CC2C(CCC(=C2CC1)C)C(C)C 204.35 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(97)01124-2
Caryophyllene 5281515 Click to see CC1=CCCC(=C)C2CC(C2CC1)(C)C 204.35 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(97)01124-2
Curcumene 92139 Click to see 202.33 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(97)01124-2
delta-Cadinene 441005 Click to see 204.35 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(97)01124-2
delta-Curcumene 57386731 Click to see 204.35 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(97)01124-2
epi-alpha-Muurolol 3084331 Click to see 222.37 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(97)01124-2
Humulene 5281520 Click to see 204.35 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(97)01124-2
Zingiberene 92776 Click to see CC1=CCC(C=C1)C(C)CCC=C(C)C 204.35 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(97)01124-2
> Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Sesquiterpenoids / Aromadendrane sesquiterpenoids / 5,10-cycloaromadendrane sesquiterpenoids
Alloaromadendren 91746537 Click to see 204.35 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(97)01124-2
> Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Sesquiterpenoids / Elemane sesquiterpenoids
2-(4-Ethenyl-4-methyl-3-(prop-1-en-2-yl)cyclohexyl)propan-2-ol 547972 Click to see 222.37 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(97)01124-2
Elemol 92138 Click to see 222.37 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(97)01124-2
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavones / Flavonols
Kaempferide 5281666 Click to see 300.26 unknown https://doi.org/10.1515/ZNC-1984-3-418
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / O-methylated flavonoids / 7-O-methylated flavonoids
Retusin 5352005 Click to see COC1=C(C=C(C=C1)C2=C(C(=O)C3=C(C=C(C=C3O2)OC)O)OC)OC 358.30 unknown https://doi.org/10.1515/ZNC-1984-3-418

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