Line leaf leucas
Leucas lavandulifolia

Family: Lamiaceae

What it is like

A herb. It is erect and an annual plant. It grows up to 1 m high. It has a bad smell. The small branches are hairy. The leaf blades have almost no leaf stalks. The blades are narrowly sword shaped and 4-9 cm long by 0.5 cm wide. There can be small teeth along the edge. The flowers are in groups of 3-30 in the axils of leaves or at the ends of branches. The fruit are oblong small nuts about 2.5 mm long by 1 mm wide.

There are about 100 Leucas species.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It suits drier areas. In Fiji it grows near sea level. In south China it grows from sea level to 1,000 m above sea level. In Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Asia, Australia, China, Fiji, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Malaysia, Micronesia, Myanmar, Northeastern India, Pacific, Palau, Philippines, SE Asia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Southern Africa, Thailand

How it is used for food

The plant is used as a flavouring. The leaves are eaten as a pot-herb.

Leaves are sold in local markets.

Edible parts

Leaves as condiment, spice

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Doron, Dulphi, Gaisa, Guma ara, Guma, Gumar, Halkasa, Halkusa, Jhinanpannikubo, Ketumbak, Ketumbit, Kumbha, Kuva, Lenglengan, Lingko-lingkoan, Mir phulok, Pachi-pachi, Plengan, Pulatumni, Thunba

Synonyms

Leucas linifolia Spreng.; Leonurus indicus L.; Phlomis linifolia Roth.;