Leucas zeylanica

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Leucas zeylanica
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Lamiales
Family: Lamiaceae
Genus: Leucas
Species:
L. zeylanica
Binomial name
Leucas zeylanica
(L.) R.Br.
Synonyms

Leucas bancana Miq.
Phlomis zeylanica Linn.
Spermacoce denticulata Walp.

Leucas zeylanica, commonly known as Ceylon slitwort,[1] is a small, terrestrial, herbaceous, annual, erect or sometimes tufted, hispid and aromatic plant of the subfamily Lamioideae of family Lamiaceae. It is native to tropical Asia.[2][3]

Description

The plant grows to a height of up to 120 cm (47 in).

base acute, pinnately veined, erect or spreading horizontally. It is reproduced by seed and pollinated by bees moths and flies. Leucas belongs to the subfamily Lamioideae, and is closely related to the small genera Acrotome and Leonotis.[4][5]

Habitat

Plant occurs in various habitats, a weed of sunny dry localities, often on sandy soils, paddy dams, waste places, open grasslands, road-sides from the lowland up to 1,700 m (5,600 ft) in altitude. It is widely distributed throughout Southeast Asia, but is rather rare in East Asia.[6]

Constituents

A

distillate
.

Uses

Culinary

The whole herb has a bitter taste, but is still used as flavoring or potherb.

Traditional medicine

The indigenous tribes in the

Satpuda region of Dhule and Jalgaon districts of Maharashtra use L. zeylanicain for fever, jaundice, and for scorpion and snake bites.[7]

Agricultural

Many species in the genus Leucas are becoming serious weeds in rice fields, sugarcane, and banana plantations.[citation needed]

Cultural

The flower of Thumba plant is the central part of Onam festival in Kerala. The tiny flower of the plant is very important for laying Pookkalam.[8]

Essential oil

Leucas zeylanica yields a small amount of

Salmonella enteritidis.[9][10]

Research

In a study of 32 plants species collected from serpentine (ultramafic) soils in Sri Lanka and screened for antimicrobial properties, L. zeylanica showed photo-mediated activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis. L. zeylanica showed population-level variation in photoactivity. Study suggests plants from serpentine environments may have alterered antimicrobial activities compared to non-serpentine environments, and that attention is needed in deciding on the substrate and habitat when collecting plants to test for antimicrobial properties.[11]

References

  1. ^ "Leucas Zeylanica". virboga.de. Retrieved 2012-03-28.
  2. ^ "Leucas Zeylanica List". tropicos.org. Retrieved 2012-03-28.
  3. ^ "The International Plant Name Index - Leucas Zeylanica List". ipni.org. Retrieved 2012-03-28.
  4. ^ "Leucas zeylanica (L.) R.Br. - LAMIACEAE - Dicotyledon". oswaldasia.org. Archived from the original on 2012-05-26. Retrieved 2012-03-28.
  5. ^ "Leucas zeylanica in Flora of China". efloras.org. Retrieved 2012-03-28.
  6. ^ "Leucas zeylanica". Germplasm Resources Information Network. Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 2012-03-28.
  7. ^ Jain, DL; Baheti, AM; Jain, SR; Khandelwal, KR (2010). "Use of medicinal plants among tribes in Satpuda region of Dhule and Jalgaon districts of Maharashtra–An ethnobotanical survey" (PDF). Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge. 9 (1): 152–157.
  8. ^ Vijayakumar, Sindhu (August 21, 2015). "The allure of Onappookalam". The Times of India. Retrieved 2022-05-09.
  9. ^ "Study on Essential Oil Obtained from the Seed of Leucas zeylanica". cnki.com.cn. 2009-02-16. Archived from the original on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2012-03-28.
  10. ^ "Study on Essential Oil Obtained from the Seed of Leucas zeylanica". scienceengineeringonline.com. Archived from the original on 2011-11-01. Retrieved 2012-03-28.
  11. S2CID 53004266
    .
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