Bush Tea

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Bush Tea
• Colic Mint
• Curacao Sage
• bushy matgrass

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Lippia alba var. globiflora
• Lippia globiflora var. geminata
• Zappania odorata
• Lantana alba f. rubella
• Camara alba
• Lippia rondonensis
• Lantana mollissima
• Lippia obovata
• Lantana malabarica
• Lippia panamensis
• Lippia havanensis
• Lantana geminata
• Lantana cuneatifolia
• Lippia lantanifolia
• Lippia alba f. intermedia
• Lippia alba f. macrophylla
• Lippia alba f. scabra
• Lippia citrata
• Lippia asperifolia
• Lippia geminata var. microphylla
• Verbena globulifera
• Lippia geminata
• Lippia globiflora
• Lippia globiflora f. lilacina
• Lippia globiflora var. normalis
• Lippia crenata
• Lippia unica
• Zappania geminata
• Zappania globiflora
• Zappania lantanoides
• Verbena lantanoides

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, it is classified under the family Verbenaceae and belongs to the genus Lippia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical distribution that spans several distinct global regions. In Southwestern Europe, its presence can be noted specifically within the country of Portugal. The species also extends into Macaronesia, where it is found on the island of Madeira. Within the Indian Subcontinent, the plant is documented in both Assam and Bangladesh. Finally, its range reaches into the unique ecosystems of the East Himalaya.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Lippia alba is characterized by a broad environmental adaptability, allowing it to thrive across diverse landscapes ranging from anthropogenic areas to specialized natural formations. It is found in a variety of ecosystems, including the Caatinga (strictu sensu), riparian forests or gallery forests (Floresta Ciliar ou Galeria), ombrophilous forests (Floresta Ombrófila/Pluvial), palm groves (Palmeiral), and restinga habitats. This species exhibits a significant vertical distribution, spanning from sea level up to a maximum elevation of 2120 m AMSL, with a mean elevational range centered around 1800 m AMSL.

Elevational range max:

2120 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

1800 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Área Antrópica, Caatinga (stricto sensu), Floresta Ciliar ou Galeria, Floresta Ombrófila (= Floresta Pluvial), Palmeiral, Restinga

Life history

The life history of Lippia alba is characterized by its long-term survival and diverse structural growth patterns. As a perennial species, it maintains its presence in the ecosystem over multiple years, avoiding the complete die-off typical of annuals. Its morphological classification reveals a versatile life form that can manifest as both a phanerophyte, where it develops significant woody stems above the ground, and a chamaephyte, where its growth remains closer to the soil surface. This dual capacity for growth allows the plant to adapt its physical stature and structural complexity in response to its specific environmental conditions throughout its life cycle.

Life form :

chamaephyte

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Lippia alba is characterized by its growth form as a shrub, reaching an average plant height of approximately 2 m. It is a terrestrial plant that functions as a self-supporting organism, neither acting as a climber (such as a liana or vine) nor as an epiphyte. In terms of its biological dependencies, the species is an independent plant rather than a parasite. Additionally, its structural composition is categorized as non-woody.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height mean:

2 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Lippia alba is characterized by a metabolic framework that utilizes the C3 photosynthetic pathway, meaning it fixes carbon dioxide through the Calvin cycle without the specialized carbon-concentrating mechanisms found in C4 or CAM plants. This pathway makes the plant particularly sensitive to environmental conditions such as water availability and light intensity, which directly influence its rate of carbon assimilation and biomass production. Furthermore, Lippia alba is not a nitrogen fixer; it lacks the symbiotic relationship with nitrogen-fixing bacteria, such as Rhizobium, required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into usable forms. Consequently, the plant relies entirely on the uptake of inorganic nitrogen, such as nitrates and ammonium, from the soil to support its protein synthesis and overall metabolic functions.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Lippia alba is fundamentally characterized by a biotic pollination syndrome, relying on living organisms rather than abiotic factors to facilitate genetic exchange. The plant's reproductive process is primarily driven by insect pollination, utilizing a diverse range of pollinators to ensure successful fertilization. Specifically, the pollination mechanisms involve various insect groups, with a significant emphasis on interactions with bees, butterflies, and other generalist insect species that are attracted to the floral structures. This reliance on biotic vectors highlights a specialized ecological strategy where the movement of pollen between flowers is mediated by the active behavior of these insect pollinators.

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Lippia alba has 4 reported plant parts identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, flower, root, stem.

Leaf

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Frontiers in plant science
3. Food chemistry

Flower

1. Food chemistry

Root

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Stem

1. Food chemistry

Chemicals

Lippia alba has 46 reported phytochemicals identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Citral, LIMONENE, CARVONE, GERANIOL, Caryophyllene oxide.

Citral

1. Dr. Duke
2. BMC complementary medicine and therapies
3. Acta tropica
4. BMC complementary and alternative medicine
5. Journal of ethnopharmacology

LIMONENE

1. Dr. Duke
2. BMC complementary medicine and therapies
3. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)
4. BMC complementary and alternative medicine
5. Journal of ethnopharmacology

CARVONE

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine
2. Revista de biologia tropical
3. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
4. Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)

GERANIOL

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology
3. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
4. Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)

Caryophyllene oxide

1. BMC complementary medicine and therapies
2. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)
3. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

NERAL

1. Dr. Duke
2. BMC complementary medicine and therapies
3. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Flavonoids

1. Analytical biochemistry
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

GERANIAL

1. BMC complementary medicine and therapies
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Linalool

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)

Tannins

1. Analytical biochemistry
2. Food chemistry

Activities

Lippia alba has 181 reported activities identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Analgesic, Antioxidant, Sedative, Antispasmodic, Antifeedant.

Analgesic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB
3. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
4. Journal of ethnopharmacology
5. Revista de biologia tropical

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Chemistry & biodiversity
3. BMC complementary medicine and therapies
4. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
5. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)

Sedative

1. Dr. Duke
2. Farmaco (Societa chimica italiana : 1989)
3. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
4. Revista de biologia tropical

Antispasmodic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB
3. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antifeedant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Frontiers in plant science

Antihypertensive

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Basic & clinical pharmacology & toxicology

Antinociceptive

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antiviral

1. Dr. Duke
2. Revista de biologia tropical

Anxiolytic

1. Chemistry & biodiversity
2. Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)

Trypanocide

1. Dr. Duke
2. BMC complementary medicine and therapies

Conditions

Lippia alba has 23 reported investigations on conditions identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include analgesic, antispasmodic, anxiolytic, Chagas Disease, Chagas disease.

Analgesic

1. Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB
2. Revista de biologia tropical

Antispasmodic

1. Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Anxiolytic

1. Chemistry & biodiversity
2. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Chagas disease

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Chagas disease

1. BMC complementary medicine and therapies

Schistosomiasis

1. Acta tropica

Spodoptera frugiperda

1. Frontiers in plant science

Trypanosoma cruzi infection

1. BMC complementary medicine and therapies

Antihypertensive

1. Basic & clinical pharmacology & toxicology

Antioxidant

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

Preparations

Lippia alba has 22 reported preparations identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include essential oils, essential oil, oils, "citral" (CEO), "linalool" (LEO).

Essential oils

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Frontiers in plant science
3. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)
4. Acta tropica
5. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Essential oil

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)

Oils

1. Natural product communications
2. Ticks and tick-borne diseases

"citral" (ceo)

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

"linalool" (leo)

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

50% aqueous ethanol

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Dcm fraction of the dry plant

1. Natural product research

Eos

1. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)

Essential oil

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Essential oils

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology