Lavender-leaved-leucas
Leucas lavandulifolia Sm.
Lamiaceae
Location in our garden
Principal
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Synonym
Hetrepta lavandulifolia (Sm.) Raf.
Leonurus indicus L.
Leonurus malebaricus J.Koenig ex Rottb.
Habitus
Herbaceous. An erect annual herb that can reach a heightof 30-80 cm.
Part Used
The Whole Plant
Growing Requirements
Full Sunshine
Need Shade
Habitat
Roadside
Grassland
Overview
Lavender-leaved leucas is native to South China, India, Nepal, Northeast Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Indo-China, Malesia. The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and medicine. It is sometimes cultivated in home gardens for use in local medicine and as a pot herb. The whole plant has a foetid smell.
Vernacular Names
Leucas a feuilles de lavande (French), Katumbak (Malaysia), Xian ye bai rong cao (Chinese), Chhoto halkusha (Bangladesh), Salita (Tagalog-Philippines), Dulphe jhar (Nepalese), Kadar kumbam (India).
Agroecology
A weed of open waste places, coconut and other plantations, roadsides, grassland and arable land, fallow land, paddy dams, locally often numerous. It grows at elevations from sea-level to 1,500 m.
Morphology
- Stem - less hairy, green, much branched square stems.
- Leaves - linear to linear-lanceolate, 5-9 cm long, 8-13 mm wide, pointed at both ends and toothed at the margins.
- Flowers - axillary and terminal. Calyx is about 1 cm long, green, very oblique, and sharply toothed. Corolla is white, 1.5 cm long, the central lobe of the lower lip is obovate, truncate, 8 mm wide. Ovary 4-celled, ovules 4, stigma 2-fid.
- Fruits - has 4 nutlets.
Cultivation
This plant can be propagated by seeds and stem cuttings.
Chemical Constituents
Alkaloids, saponins, tannins, phenolic, flavonoids, triterfernoid, steroids, glycoside, acacetin, chrysoeriol, linifoliside, linifoliol, lupeol, taraxerone.
Traditional Medicinal Uses
- The plant is diaphoretic and stimulant. It is used to heal chronic leg sores, dermatosis, as an anthelminthic for roundworms, as a gargle to remove mucus and for appeasing affections of the nerves.
- Studies showed significant anti-ulcer, anti-diabetes, wound healing, antitussive, anthelmintic, analgesic, and hypoglycemic properties.
- Studies suggests as a potential antibacterial agent and a potential source of valuable antioxidant products.
- The leaves are used as a poultice to treat itch, headaches and vertigo. Leaves decoction is considered a good stomachic, and is applied, internally and externally, to treat colic of children.
- The juice of the plant is used in the treatment of malarial fever.
- In India, the leaves are used for piles and sore eyes. Juice of fresh leaves applied for colds and chronic headaches.
- The plant is used as a gargle to remove mucus.
Part Used
Reference Sources
- Eflora of india. Google Group. (No date). Leucas lavandulifolia. https://sites.google.com/site/efloraofindia/species/a---l/l/lamiaceae/leucas/leucas-lavandulifolia. 06-02-2021.
- Fern, Ken. (2014.) Useful Tropical Plants: Leucas lavandulifolia. http://tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Leucas+lavandulifolia. 06-02-2021.
- Flowers of India. (No date). Lavender-Leaved Leucas. https://www.flowersofindia.net/catalog/slides/Lavender-Leaved%20Leucas.html. 08-02-2021.
- James Cook University. (No date). Leucas lavandulifoil. https://www.jcu.edu.au/discover-nature-atjcu/plants/nq-weeds-by-scientific-name2/leucas-lavandulifolia. 06-02-2021.
- StuartXchange. (2016). Philippine Medicinal Plants. Salita Leucas lavandulifolia Sm. LINE-LEAF LEUCAS. http://www.stuartxchange.org/Salita.html. 06-02-2021.