Leonotis
Leonotis, commonly known as Wild Dagga or Lion's Ear, is a striking medicinal shrub native to Africa. Renowned for its vibrant orange, tubular flowers, this plant has been traditionally used to treat respiratory ailments and inflammation. Modern herbalists also value its unique psychoactive properties and calming, therapeutic effects.
- Scientific name: Leonotis
- 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 the family Lamiaceae, it is 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, belonging to the genus Leonotis, is recognized by various names across different languages and cultures. In German, it is known as Löwenohren, while in Finnish, it is referred to as leijonankorvat. In Russian, the name is Леонотис, and in Bulgarian, it is called леонотис. Additionally, in Arabic, it is commonly known as أذن الأسد.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| de | Löwenohren | Wikidata |
| ru | Леонотис | Wikidata |
| fi | leijonankorvat | Wikidata |
| bg | леонотис | Wikidata |
| ar | أذن الأسد | Wikidata |
| hr | Lavlje uho | Wikidata |
| cs | lvoušek | Wikidata |
| sk | srdcovník | Wikidata |
| zh | 狮耳花属 | Wikidata |
| zh-cn | 狮耳花属 | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a diverse geographical distribution spanning several distinct regions across the African continent and its surrounding islands. In Northern Africa, it can be found specifically within the borders of Morocco. Its range extends to the Macaronesian region, where it inhabits the Canary Islands. Within West Tropical Africa, the species is documented in Benin as well as in Burkina. Additionally, the plant's presence is confirmed in the West Tropical African nation of Gambia.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Africa | Morocco | WCVP |
| Macaronesia | Canary Is. | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Benin | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Burkina | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Gambia | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Ghana | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Guinea-Bissau | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Guinea | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Ivory Coast | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Liberia | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, commonly known as Lion's Ear, possesses distinct morphological features that contribute to its medicinal profile. The sturdy stem serves as a central structural support, often displaying a square or ribbed shape characteristic of the Lamiaceae family, which helps elevate the foliage toward sunlight. Attached to these stems are the leaves, where the lamina or leaf blade is typically wide and textured, providing the necessary surface area for photosynthesis to fuel the plant's growth.- Total parts
- 2
- Scientific sources
- 2
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| stem | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| lamina | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Leonotis has 1 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Sedative.
- Total activities
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Sedative | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |