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Useful Tropical Plants

Leucas martinicensis

(Jacq.) R.Br.

Lamiaceae

+ Synonyms

Clinopodium martinicense Jacq.

Leonotis caribea (Jacq.) Raf.

Leucas elliotii Baker

Leucas ringoetii De Wild.

Leucas schimperi Hochst. ex A.Br.

Phlomis caribaea Jacq.

Phlomis martinicensis (Jacq.) Sw.

Phlomis mollis Schumach. & Thonn.

Stachys fluminensis Vell.

Common Name:

Leucas martinicensis
Flowering plant in native habitat
Photograph by: Marco Schmidt; African plants - A Photo Guide
© Marco Schmidt
Leucas martinicensis Leucas martinicensis Leucas martinicensis Leucas martinicensis

General Information

Wild tea bush is an erect, usually unbranched, annual, aromatic herb growing from 50 - 100 cm tall[
332
Title
The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
Burkil. H. M.
Publisher
Royal Botanic Gardens; Kew.
Year
1985 - 2004
ISBN
 
Description
Brief descriptions and details of the uses of over 4,000 plants. A superb, if terse, resource, it is also available electronically on the Web - see http://www.aluka.org/
,
372
Title
Flowers of India
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.flowersofindia.net/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A wed site of native Indian plants, plus cultivated and naturalized species. It has good quality photos and terse details on more than 3,000 species and cultivars.
].
The plant is sometimes gathered from the wild and used as a tea and insect repellent.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

266
Title
Flora of China
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/
Publisher
Missouri Botanical Garden Press; St. Louis.
Year
1994
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent, comprehensive resource in 25 volumes. In addition to the botanical information the flora also gives basic information on habitat and some uses. An on-line version is also available.

Range

Widely spread in tropical and subtropical Africa to Indian subcontinent, Myanmar and Malaysia.

Habitat

Open ground and waste places, often as a weed of cultivation[
332
Title
The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
Burkil. H. M.
Publisher
Royal Botanic Gardens; Kew.
Year
1985 - 2004
ISBN
 
Description
Brief descriptions and details of the uses of over 4,000 plants. A superb, if terse, resource, it is also available electronically on the Web - see http://www.aluka.org/
].

Properties

Medicinal Rating *  *
Other Uses Rating *  *
HabitAnnual
Height1.00 m
PollinatorsBees, Moths, Flies
Cultivation StatusWild

Cultivation Details

Not known

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

An infusion of the leaves is used to treat gastro-intestinal troubles[
46
Title
Dictionary of Economic Plants.
Publication
 
Author
Uphof. J. C. Th.
Publisher
Weinheim
Year
1959
ISBN
-
Description
An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader.
,
266
Title
Flora of China
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/
Publisher
Missouri Botanical Garden Press; St. Louis.
Year
1994
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent, comprehensive resource in 25 volumes. In addition to the botanical information the flora also gives basic information on habitat and some uses. An on-line version is also available.
].


In general, the crushed leaves of Leucas species are applied to wounds, sores, especially those of the eyes and nose, chronic skin diseases, such as psoriasis and scabies. The crushed leaves are also used to treat mild fevers, colds, rheumatism and snake bites, and as a decoction against roundworm, mainly for children[
310
Title
Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://proseanet.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
].

Other Uses

An aromatic plant with a mint-like aroma, it is burnt in order to repel mosquitoes[
46
Title
Dictionary of Economic Plants.
Publication
 
Author
Uphof. J. C. Th.
Publisher
Weinheim
Year
1959
ISBN
-
Description
An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader.
,
266
Title
Flora of China
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/
Publisher
Missouri Botanical Garden Press; St. Louis.
Year
1994
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent, comprehensive resource in 25 volumes. In addition to the botanical information the flora also gives basic information on habitat and some uses. An on-line version is also available.
].

Propagation

Seed -
Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2024-11-23. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Leucas+martinicensis>

Comments

Abubakar Surajo Ringim 02nd February 2016 13:50
Common name for this plant in Hausa language (Nigeria) is "Kan barawo".

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