Lippia alba

Lippia alba is a species of flowering plant in the verbena family, Verbenaceae, that is native to southern Texas in the United States, Mexico, the Caribbean, Central America, and South America. In Ethiopia the plant is also known as koseret (Amharic: ኮሰረት) and used as a cooking herb, especially for preparing the spiced butter niter kibbeh. The species is also present in Australia and India, where it is probably a human introduction. Common names include bushy matgrass, bushy lippia, hierba negra, juanilama, pamporegano, poleo and pitiona.

Description

A shrub. It is branched. It grows 1.5 m tall. The leaves are opposite or in threes. The leaves are 1-3 cm long and 1-2 cm wide. The flowers are white or pink. They are in spikes 2 cm long.

Edible Uses

Bushy lippia is widely cultivated as an ornamental for its aromatic foliage and beautiful flowers. The essential oil composition is unique to each plant, but may include piperitone, geranial, neral, caryophyllene, camphor, eucalyptol, limonene, carvone, germacrene, α-guaiene, β-ocimene, linalool, or myrcene. The leaves are used for flavoring foods, such as mole sauces from Oaxaca, Mexico. The plant is used medicinally for its somatic, sedative, antidepressant, and analgesic properties.

Traditional Uses

The leaves are used as a vegetable. They have an anise flavour and are used in soups and with meat and fish. Thye are also used for chutney. The leaves are used for tea.

Medicinal Uses

A tea made from the leaves is a favourite domestic remedy in Central America for both intestinal and respiratory disturbances, including influenza. A well-sugared infusion is drunk to bring relief of heart problems and to soothe tachycardia. Used externally, the aromatic leaves are used in herbal baths, to cure fevers and severe stomach pain, and to cleanse the bladder. The plant contains an essential oil composed principally of dihydrocarvone. Other compounds include limonene, pinene, linalol, and camphor.

Distribution

A subtropical plant. In Argentina it grows from sea level to 1,000 m above sea level.

Where It Grows

Amazon, Andaman Is., Argentina, Asia, Australia, Bahamas, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Caribbean, Central America*, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Guianas, Guyana, Haiti, Himalayas, Honduras, India, Jamaica*, Lesser Antilles*, Mexico*, Nicaragua, North America, Northeastern India, Panama,Paraguay, Peru, Portugal, Puerto Rico, South America, St Lucia, Suriname, Trinidad-Tobago, Uruguay, USA, Venezuela, West Indies*,

Cultivation

Plants can be grown from seeds.

Propagation

Seed - Basal or nodal softwood cuttings. Cuttings of semi-ripe wood.

Other Uses

An essential oil is obtained from the plant. The principle compound in the oil is dihydrocarvone., others include limonene, pinene, linalol, and camphor.

Synonyms

Also Known As

Basula, Borma mosla lai, Bushy lippia, Bushy matgrass, Cha-de-zezinho, Cidreira-do-campo, Daru kaini ba, Guinea mint, Hierba negra, Licorice verbena, Lopong-brik, Naga-ateri, Nakalopong, Ontaibajab, Pampa oregano, Pitiona, Taw-tas, Thoilopong, Yantria

References (23)

• Alimenticias - FloraSBS
• Ambasta S.P. (Ed.), 2000, The Useful Plants of India. CSIR India. p 332
• Baro, D., Baruah, S. and Borthukar, S. K. 2015, Documentation on wild vegetables of Baksa district, BTAD (Assam). Scholars Research Library. Archives of Applied Science Research, 2015, 7 (9):19-2 (As Lippia geminata)
• Bortolotto, I. M., et al, 2018, Lista preliminar das plantas alimenticias nativas de Mato Grosso do Sul, Brasil. Iheringia, Serie Botanica, Porto Alegre, 73 (supl.):101-116
• Bot. Porto Rico 6:141. 1925

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