Aloysia citriodora

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• lemon-verbena

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Lithocardium microcephalum
• Varronia microcephala
• Cordia microcephala
• Aloysia sleumeri
• Aloysia triphylla f. serrulata
• Lippia citrodora
• Verbena citrodora
• Zappania citrodora

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Lamiales, it is classified under the family Verbenaceae. Finally, its taxonomic designation is completed within the genus Aloysiia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical distribution spanning across several different continents. In Southwestern Europe, it can be found growing in France, Spain, and the island of Sardegna. Its presence also extends into Southeastern Europe, specifically within the borders of Albania. Moving across the Atlantic, the species is documented in Mexico, particularly in the region of Mexico Central. These various locations highlight the wide environmental range inhabited by this medicinal species.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Aloysiia citrodora is characterized by its ability to thrive across a broad altitudinal gradient, ranging from elevations as low as 250 m AMSL to a maximum of 3500 m AMSL. In terms of its preferred environment, the species frequently occurs in áreas antrópica, indicating a strong capacity to colonize and persist in habitats influenced by human activity and modified landscapes.

Elevational range max:

3500 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

250 m AMSL

Habitat :

Área Antrópica

Life history

The life history of Aloysia citrodora is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. Morphologically, it is classified as a phanerophyte, as its woody stems extend well above the ground level, and it can also be described as a nanophanerophyte depending on the specific growth habit and scale of its woody structure. In terms of its seasonal foliage patterns, the species is deciduous, shedding its leaves periodically as part of its natural life cycle.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

nanophanerophyte

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Aloysia citrodora is characterized by its growth form as a woody shrub, which typically reaches a mean plant height of approximately 3 meters. As a terrestrial species, it grows in soil rather than aquatic or semi-aquatic environments, and it functions as an independent organism without parasitic tendencies. The plant is self-supporting in its structure, meaning it does not behave as a liana, vine, or climbing plant, and it lacks epiphytic characteristics, maintaining a strictly terrestrial existence. Its physical architecture is defined by its persistent woodiness and upright, shrubby habit.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height mean:

3 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Aloysia citrodora is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, utilizing the standard Calvin cycle to fix atmospheric carbon dioxide into organic compounds. As a non-nitrogen-fixing species, the plant does not possess the biological mechanisms, such as symbiotic relationships with rhizobia, to convert atmospheric nitrogen into usable forms, meaning it relies entirely on the uptake of nitrates and ammonium from the soil to satisfy its nitrogen requirements for protein and enzyme synthesis.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Aloysia citrodora is characterized by a versatile flowering period that can occur throughout almost the entire year, with flowering start times spanning from January through December, though the timing remains highly variable depending on environmental conditions. The reproductive process relies on a biotic pollination syndrome, meaning it depends on living organisms to facilitate the transfer of pollen. Specifically, the plant is primarily pollinated by insects, utilizing these biotic vectors to ensure successful fertilization and seed production.

Flowering time :

Dec

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Aloysia citrodora has 113 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include LIMONENE, 1,8-Cineole, Citral, Spathulenol, 1-OCTEN-3-OL.

LIMONENE

1. Dr. Duke
2. Food science & nutrition
3. Journal of evidence-based complementary & alternative medicine

1,8-Cineole

1. Dr. Duke
2. Chemistry & biodiversity

Citral

1. Dr. Duke
2. Food science & nutrition

Spathulenol

1. Dr. Duke
2. Food science & nutrition

1-OCTEN-3-OL

1. Dr. Duke

2,5-Dimethyl-2-vinyl-4-hexenal

1. Dr. Duke

3-OCTANOL

1. Dr. Duke

3-Octanone

1. Dr. Duke

ALPHA-CARYOPHYLLENE

1. Dr. Duke

ALPHA-CEDRENE

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Aloysia citrodora has 351 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, (-)-Chronotropic, (-)-Inotropic, 11B-HSD-Inhibitor, ACE-Inhibitor.

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Foods (Basel, Switzerland)

(-)-Chronotropic

1. Dr. Duke

(-)-Inotropic

1. Dr. Duke

11B-HSD-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

ACE-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

AChE-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Acaricide

1. Dr. Duke

Acidulant

1. Dr. Duke

Aldose-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Algistat

1. Dr. Duke

Medicinal Uses

Aloysia citrodora has 1 reported medicinal uses identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include oxidative stress.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations