lion's ear

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Cape Hemp
• Common Lion's Ear
• Common Lionspaw
• Leonotis
• Lion's tail
• Narrow-Leaved Leonotis
• Narrow-leaved Minaret Flower
• Red Dacha
• Wild Dagga
• Wild Dakka
• Wild Hemp

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Phlomis leonurus
• Leonurus africanus
• Leonurus grandiflorus
• Leonurus superbus
• Hemisodon leonurus
• Leonotis leonurus var. albiflora

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 and family Lamiaceae, it is specifically classified under the genus Leonotis.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a wide-ranging natural distribution across several distinct African regions. In West-Central Tropical Africa, its presence is specifically noted in Burundi. The species is also extensively found throughout Southern Africa, including the Cape Provinces. Furthermore, it thrives in the KwaZulu-Natal region of the south. Finally, its geographical reach extends to the Free State and the Northern Provinces within Southern Africa.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Leonotis leonurus is defined by its remarkable adaptability to diverse topographical gradients, allowing it to colonize a vast vertical landscape. This species thrives across a wide elevational range, establishing itself in habitats starting from as low as 5 m AMSL and extending up to a maximum altitude of 2800 m AMSL. This broad distribution enables the plant to occupy various ecological niches, ranging from coastal lowland environments to high-altitude montane regions. By spanning such a significant altitudinal spectrum, the plant demonstrates a high degree of environmental plasticity, enabling it to withstand the varying temperature regimes and moisture availability characteristic of different mountain zones.

Elevational range max:

2800 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

5 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Leonotis leonurus is characterized by its nature as a perennial species, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. In terms of its structural growth and survival strategy, the plant is classified as a phanerophyte, as it maintains its stem structure above the ground level. Additionally, its specific architectural classification identifies it as a nanophanerophyte, indicating that its woody or permanent stems are relatively short, typically staying close to the ground while still maintaining a visible stem height during its developmental stages.

Life form :

nanophanerophyte

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Leonotis leonurus is characterized by a woody, shrub-like growth form that functions as a self-supporting, non-climbing plant. It is a terrestrial species that grows independently, lacking any parasitic or epiphytic tendencies. In terms of stature, the plant exhibits significant vertical development, with a height that typically ranges from a minimum of 2 meters to a maximum of 5 meters, maintaining an average height of approximately 3 meters.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

5 m

Plant height mean:

3 m

Plant height min:

2 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Leonotis leonurus is characterized by a robust metabolic framework adapted to various environmental conditions, primarily functioning through specialized photosynthetic and nutrient-acquisition processes. As a member of the Lamiaceae family, it exhibits a typical C3 photosynthetic pathway, utilizing its glandular trichomes to manage transpiration and synthesize various secondary metabolites, such as leonurine, which serve both protective and physiological roles. Regarding its nutrient cycling capabilities, the plant does not possess a symbiotic relationship with nitrogen-fixing bacteria in its root system; therefore, it is not a nitrogen fixer (trait_1: no; trait_2: no). Instead, it relies on the uptake of inorganic nitrogen, such as nitrates and ammonium, from the soil through its root architecture to support the synthesis of amino acids and proteins essential for growth and the development of its distinct orange tubular flowers.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Reproduction

Reproduction in Leonotis leonurus is primarily achieved through the production of small, dark seeds housed within specialized calyces that form during the flowering stage. The dispersal and establishment of the species rely heavily on the specific characteristics of these seeds, which exhibit a highly consistent mass profile. Data indicates that the seed mass is uniform across the population, with a mean, maximum, and minimum value all recorded at 0.0028 g. This precise seed mass of 0.0028 g suggests a standardized energy investment per propagule, facilitating efficient germination under suitable environmental conditions. Once the seeds are released from the dried floral structures, they settle into the substrate to begin the life cycle, a process heavily influenced by this consistent reproductive output.

Seed mass mean:

0.0028 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Leonotis leonurus has 2 reported plant parts identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include flower, leaf.

Flower

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. BMC research notes

Leaf

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. BMC research notes

Chemicals

Leonotis leonurus has 39 reported phytochemicals identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Marrubiin, (E)-beta-farnesene, (E)-beta-ocimene, (Z)-BETA-OCIMENE, (Z)-beta-Farnesene.

Marrubiin

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

(E)-beta-farnesene

1. Dr. Duke

(E)-beta-ocimene

1. Dr. Duke

(Z)-BETA-OCIMENE

1. Dr. Duke

(Z)-beta-Farnesene

1. Dr. Duke

2-pentyl furan

1. Dr. Duke

ALLO-OCIMENE

1. Dr. Duke

ALPHA-PINENE

1. Dr. Duke

ALPHA-THUJENE

1. Dr. Duke

BETA-CARYOPHYLLENE

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Leonotis leonurus has 115 reported activities identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include (-)-Chronotropic, (-)-Inotropic, ACE-Inhibitor, AChE-Inhibitor, Acaricide.

(-)-Chronotropic

1. Dr. Duke

(-)-Inotropic

1. Dr. Duke

ACE-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

AChE-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Acaricide

1. Dr. Duke

Aldose-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Allelochemic

1. Dr. Duke

Allergenic

1. Dr. Duke

Analgesic

1. Dr. Duke

Antiacetylcholine

1. Dr. Duke

Conditions

Leonotis leonurus has 13 reported investigations on conditions identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include epilepsy, HIV-1, anxiety, boils, cancer.

Epilepsy

1. Metabolic brain disease
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Hiv-1

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Anxiety

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Boils

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Cancer

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Constipation

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Depression

1. Frontiers in pharmacology

Eczema

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Headache

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Infectious diseases

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Preparations

Leonotis leonurus has 5 reported preparations identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include Extracts, Flower extracts, crude acetone extracts, decoction, extracts.

Extracts

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Flower extracts

1. BMC research notes

Crude acetone extracts

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Decoction

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Extracts

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology