Leonotis leonurus
Lion's ear
Leonotis leonurus, commonly known as Wild Dagga or Lion's Ear, is a striking perennial shrub native to South Africa. Renowned for its vibrant, orange tubular flowers, this medicinal plant is traditionally used in various cultures for its calming properties, treating respiratory ailments, and serving as a potent herbal stimulant.
- Scientific name: Leonotis leonurus
- Family: Lamiaceae
- Native range: Africa
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.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Lamiales | WCVP |
| Family | Lamiaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Leonotis | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known scientifically as Leonotis leonurus, is recognized by various regional names across different languages and cultures. In Russian, it is referred to as Леонотис пустырниковый, while in Armenian, it is called Առյուծագի. The Arabic-speaking world calls it أذن الأسد الذنبية, and in the Tsonga language, it is known as Mbangi ya nhova. Additionally, in Czech, the plant is commonly called lvoušek oranžový.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| ru | Леонотис пустырниковый | Wikidata |
| hy | Առյուծագի | Wikidata |
| ar | أذن الأسد الذنبية | Wikidata |
| ts | Mbangi ya nhova | Wikidata |
| cs | lvoušek oranžový | Wikidata |
| ja | レオノチス | Wikidata |
| ary | أبزاز | Wikidata |
| sk | srdcovník leví | Wikidata |
| zh | 狮耳花 | Wikidata |
| zh-cn | 狮耳花 | Wikidata |
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.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| West-Central Tropical Africa | Burundi | WCVP |
| Southern Africa | Cape Provinces | WCVP |
| Southern Africa | KwaZulu-Natal | WCVP |
| Southern Africa | Free State | WCVP |
| Southern Africa | Northern Provinces | WCVP |
| Middle Atlantic Ocean | St.Helena | WCVP |
| Malesia | Jawa | WCVP |
| Australia | Tasmania | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, commonly known as Wild Dagga, possesses several parts that are utilized in traditional medicine. The vibrant, orange tubular flowers are perhaps its most striking feature, often growing in dense whorls along the upright shoots. The lush green leaves and general plant leaves are rich in bioactive compounds, which are frequently harvested for therapeutic use. Depending on the specific preparation required, practitioners may use the fresh foliage or rely on dried leaves to create infusions and herbal remedies.- Total parts
- 5
- Scientific sources
- 7
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| leaves | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| flowers | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| shoots | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| plant leaves | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| dried leaves | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Leonotis leonurus has 4 reported phytochemicals identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include acetone, leonurine, marrubiin, terpenoids.
- Total chemicals
- 4
- Scientific sources
- 4
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| acetone | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| leonurine | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| marrubiin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| terpenoids | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Leonotis leonurus has 3 reported activities identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Anticonvulsant, Antiepileptic, Anxiolytic.
- Total activities
- 3
- Scientific sources
- 3
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Anticonvulsant | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antiepileptic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Anxiolytic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Leonotis leonurus has 13 reported medicinal uses identified across 14 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include epilepsy, HIV-1, anxiety, boils, cancer.
- Total uses
- 13
- Scientific sources
- 14
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| epilepsy | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| HIV-1 | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| anxiety | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| boils | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| cancer | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| constipation | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| depression | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| eczema | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| headache | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| infectious diseases | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |