Home | > | List of cultivated families | > | Lamiaceae | > | Mesosphaerum | > | suaveolens |
Synonyms: |
Ballota suaveolens L. Hyptis suaveolens (L.) Poit. |
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Common names: | Pignut (English) Spikenard (English) | |
Description: | Erect, strongly aromatic branched annual or short-lived perennial herb up to 3 m tall. Stems 4-angled, velvety with longer hairs and gland dots. Leaves opposite, ovate, 2.5-10 cm long, cordate at the base, velvety on both sides, margin toothed; petiole 1-7 cm long. Young leaves often purple tinged, particularly on the margin. Flowers axillary pedunculate clusters. Calyx with 5 spine-like teeth, often dark purple, glandular. Corolla 2-lipped, mauve with dark purple lines at the base of the broad 2-lobed upper lip. | |
Notes: | The specimen in the photographs likely represents a first record for the Caprivi. A very unusual record since this alien species is in our region so far only known from Mozambique where it has rapidly become a very common weed of disturbed places and only very sporadically from eastern and northern Zimbabwe. | |
Derivation of specific name: | suaveolens: sweet-scented. | |
Flowering time: | All year | |
Worldwide distribution: | Native to Central America. Introduced in many tropical areas of the world | |
Growth form(s): | ||
Insects associated with this species: | ||
Spot characters: | Display spot characters for this species | |
Content last updated: | Tuesday 27 February 2018 | |
Literature: |
Burrows, J.E., Burrows, S.M., Lötter, M.C. & Schmidt, E. (2018). Trees and Shrubs Mozambique Publishing Print Matters (Pty), Cape Town. Page 840. (Includes a picture). Mapaura, A. & Timberlake, J. (eds) (2004). A checklist of Zimbabwean vascular plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 33 Sabonet, Pretoria and Harare Page 55. Paton, A.J. et al. (2013). Lamiaceae Flora Zambesiaca 8(8) Pages 106 - 108. |
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