Balm Of Gilead

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Balm Of Gilead
• Minaret Flower
• Rock Lion's Ear
• Rock Lionspaw

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Phlomis ocymifolia

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. It is further classified within the order Lamiales and the family Lamiaceae. Finally, its taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Leonotis.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific distribution pattern concentrated within the tropical regions of the African continent. In West-Central Tropical Africa, its presence is documented in Burundi, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Moving toward the northeast, the species also expands its range into Northeast Tropical Africa. Specifically, it can be found growing within the borders of Eritrea and Ethiopia. Consequently, these five nations represent the primary geographical locations for this medicinal species.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Leonotis ocymifolia is characterized by its adaptability to diverse topographical settings, ranging from low-lying coastal regions to significantly higher altitudes. It occupies a broad elevational spectrum, thriving at altitudes as low as 100 m AMSL and extending up to a maximum elevation of 2100 m AMSL. This wide altitudinal distribution allows the species to inhabit varied environmental gradients, maintaining a presence in both maritime coastal habitats and montane ecosystems.

Elevational range max:

2100 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

100 m AMSL

Habitat :

Coastal

Life history

The life history of Leonotis ocymifolia is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. In terms of its structural growth strategy and ecological positioning, it exhibits a dual classification of life forms, functioning as both a phanerophyte and a nanophanerophyte. This indicates that while it can develop significant above-ground woody or semi-woody structures to protect its buds during unfavorable conditions, it also maintains a growth habit where its regenerative buds are held close to the ground or just above it, facilitating resilience in its natural habitat.

Life form :

nanophanerophyte

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Leonotis ocymifolia is characterized by a shrubby growth form, exhibiting a woody structure that defines its physical stature. As a self-supporting, terrestrial plant, it does not function as a climber, epiphyte, or parasite, growing instead as an independent organism. The plant's height is variable, ranging from a minimum of 0.3 m to a maximum of 3 m, with an average height of approximately 2.5 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

3 m

Plant height mean:

2.5 m

Plant height min:

0.3 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Leonotis ocymifolia is characterized by specific morphological dimensions and nutritional strategies. The plant's foliar structure features leaves that reach a maximum length of 7 cm, while the leaf width remains remarkably consistent, maintaining a mean, minimum, and maximum value of 5 cm. Regarding its metabolic and symbiotic capabilities, the species does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it lacks the physiological mechanisms to convert atmospheric nitrogen into usable forms through symbiotic relationships.

Leaf length max:

7 cm

Leaf width mean:

5 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Reproduction

Reproduction in Leonotis ocymifolia is characterized by a reliance on sexual processes, as asexual reproduction is noted to be absent. The plant produces seeds with a relatively small mass, exhibiting a mean weight of approximately 0.00206 g, with individual seed masses ranging from a minimum of 0.00166 g to a maximum of 0.00279 g. The dispersal of these seeds follows an unspecialized syndrome, utilizing a diverse array of mechanisms including anemochory, zoochory, autochory, and hydrochory, as well as other non-specific vectors.

Dispersal syndrome :

unspecialized

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Seed mass max:

0.00279 g

Seed mass mean:

0.00206333333333333 g

Seed mass min:

0.00166 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Leonotis ocymifolia has 2 reported plant parts identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, fruit.

Leaf

1. Journal of experimental pharmacology
2. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Fruit

1. Journal of experimental pharmacology

Chemicals

Leonotis ocymifolia has 5 reported phytochemicals identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Caryophyllene oxide, Dubiin, Leonotin, Leonotinin, Nepetaefolin.

Caryophyllene oxide

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Dubiin

1. Diseases (Basel, Switzerland)

Leonotin

1. Diseases (Basel, Switzerland)

Leonotinin

1. Diseases (Basel, Switzerland)

Nepetaefolin

1. Diseases (Basel, Switzerland)

Activities

Leonotis ocymifolia has 6 reported activities identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Cytotoxic, Analgesic, Anthelmintic, Antibacterial, Antimalarial.

Cytotoxic

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology
2. BMC complementary medicine and therapies

Analgesic

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Anthelmintic

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antibacterial

1. Journal of experimental pharmacology

Antimalarial

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Antimicrobial

1. Journal of experimental pharmacology

Conditions

Leonotis ocymifolia has 6 reported investigations on conditions identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include Malaria, Pain, Plasmodium berghei, cancer, diarrhea.

Malaria

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Pain

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Plasmodium berghei

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Cancer

1. BMC complementary medicine and therapies

Diarrhea

1. Journal of experimental pharmacology

Inflammation

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Preparations

Leonotis ocymifolia has 7 reported preparations identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include 80% methanol leaf and fruit extract, 80% methanol leaves extract, Essential oils, Hydroalcoholic Extract of Leaf, crude aqueous and hydro-alcoholic extracts of the aerial parts.

80% methanol leaf and fruit extract

1. Journal of experimental pharmacology

80% methanol leaves extract

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Essential oils

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Hydroalcoholic extract of leaf

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Crude aqueous and hydro-alcoholic extracts of the aerial parts

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Extracts

1. BMC complementary medicine and therapies

Hydroalcoholic extract

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM