lavender-leaved leucas

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• lavender-leaved leucas

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Hetrepta lavandulifolia
• Leonurus indicus
• Leucas lavandulifolia var. decipiens
• Leucas linifolia
• Leucas linifolia var. decipiens
• Leucas indica var. decipiens
• Leucas malabarica
• Leucas brownii
• Phlomis linifolia

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, placing it within the class Equisetopsida. It is further classified under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Lamiales, specifically falling into the family Lamiaceae. Within this botanical hierarchy, it is identified by the genus Leucas.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical distribution spanning several distinct regions across the globe. In Southern Africa, it is specifically documented within the KwaZulu-Natal province. Its reach extends to the Western Indian Ocean, where it can be found in the Seychelles. Within the Asian continent, the species inhabits the Indian Subcontinent, specifically in the Assam region. Finally, the plant is also distributed throughout China, appearing in both the South-Central and Southeast territories.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Leucas lavandulifolia is defined by its specific altitudinal distribution, occurring within a lowland to sub-montane environmental gradient. This species inhabits an elevational range that begins at a minimum of 5 m AMSL and extends to a maximum of 155 m AMSL. Such a narrow and low-altitude range suggests that the plant is specialized to thrive in coastal or near-coastal lowland ecosystems, likely favoring warmer climates and specific soil compositions characteristic of these low-lying terrestrial habitats.

Elevational range max:

155 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

5 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Leucas lavandulifolia is characterized by an annual lifecycle, meaning it completes its entire biological progression from germination to seed production within a single growing season. As a therophyte, its life form is defined by a strategy where the plant survives unfavorable conditions through highly resilient seeds, with the vegetative structure dying off completely at the end of the cycle. This specific developmental pattern allows the species to rapidly exploit seasonal environmental resources before returning to a dormant seed state.

Life form :

therophyte

Lifecycle :

annual

Morphology

The morphology of Leucas lavandulifolia is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb, which exhibits a self-supporting structure rather than being a climber. As a terrestrial species, it is neither aquatic nor semiaquatic, and it functions as an independent organism without parasitic tendencies. It does not exhibit epiphytic behavior, maintaining a strictly terrestrial existence. In terms of physical dimensions, the plant is relatively low-growing, with a plant height that ranges from a minimum of 0.6 m to a maximum of 1 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

1 m

Plant height min:

0.6 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Reproduction

The reproduction of Leucas lavandulifolia is characterized by the production of highly uniform seeds, which exhibit a consistent weight across all observed samples. The seed mass parameters are exceptionally stable, with a mean seed mass of 0.00132 g. This consistency is reflected in the maximum and minimum recorded values, which both stand at 0.00132 g, indicating a lack of variance in the mass of the individual seeds produced during the reproductive cycle.

Seed mass mean:

0.00132 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Leucas lavandulifolia has 2 reported plant parts identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, stem.

Leaf

1. Scientific reports

Stem

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Chemicals

Leucas lavandulifolia has 1 reported phytochemicals identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Taraxerone.

Taraxerone

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Activities

Leucas lavandulifolia has 3 reported activities identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Anticoagulant, Antiplatelet, Thrombolytic.

Anticoagulant

1. Scientific reports

Antiplatelet

1. Scientific reports

Thrombolytic

1. Scientific reports

Conditions

Leucas lavandulifolia has 5 reported investigations on conditions identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include asthma, dermatitis, fever, psoriasis, snake bites.

Asthma

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Dermatitis

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Fever

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Psoriasis

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Snake bites

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Preparations

Leucas lavandulifolia has 2 reported preparations identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include extract of aqueous leaves, methanol extract.

Extract of aqueous leaves

1. Scientific reports

Methanol extract

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology