Biology:Mesosphaerum suaveolens

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Short description: Species of flowering plant

Mesosphaerum suaveolens
Hyptis suaveolens (Vilayti Tulsi) in Hyderabad, AP W IMG 0117.jpg
Mesosphaerum suaveolens (Vilayti Tulsi) in Hyderabad
Scientific classification edit
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Lamiales
Family: Lamiaceae
Genus: Mesosphaerum
Species:
M. suaveolens
Binomial name
Mesosphaerum suaveolens
(L.) Kuntze[1]
Synonyms[1]
  • Ballota suaveolens L.
  • Blume Raf.
  • Schrank Hyptis plumieri
  • Gnoteris villosa Poit.
  • Bystropogon suaveolens Raf.
  • (L.) Poit. Marrubium indicum
  • Hyptis congesta Blanco
  • Bystropogon graveolens (L.) L'Hér.
  • Leonard (Blume) Hassk.
  • Hyptis ebracteata Gnoteris cordata
  • R.Br. Schaueria graveolens
  • Hyptis suaveolens Hyptis graveolens
Hyptis suaveolens essential oil

Mesosphaerum suaveolens, synonym Hyptis suaveolens, chia,[2] pignut, or chan, is a branching pseudocereal plant native to tropical regions of Mexico, Central, the West Indies, and South America, as well as being naturalized in tropical parts of Africa, Asia and Australia .[3] It is generally 1–1.5 m (3.3–4.9 ft) tall, occasionally up to 3 m (9.8 ft). Stems are hairy, and square in cross section. Leaves are oppositely arranged, 2–10 cm (0.79–3.94 in) long, with shallowly toothed margins, and emit a strong minty odor if crushed. Flowers are pink or purple, arranged in clusters of 1–5 in the upper leaf axils.[4]

Traditional Uses

Studies have found that M. suaveolens is effective as an insecticide.[5][6]

Mesosphaerum suaveolens can be made into a refreshing drink by soaking the seeds in water and refrigerating the mix. Some people add lemon or other citrus to improve the taste. In Colima, Mexico, people use the M. suaveolens seeds to prepare a traditional beverage called bate. The process consists in roasting and grinding the seeds and then mixing the resulting powder with water. M. suaveolens is also a traditional treatment for diarrhea.[citation needed]

See also

References

External links

Wikidata ☰ {{{from}}} entry