Species of flowering plant From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Lippia alba is a species of flowering plant in the verbena family, Verbenaceae, that is native to southern Texas in the United States,[3] Mexico, the Caribbean, Central America, and South America.
| Lippia alba | |
|---|---|
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| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Lamiales |
| Family: | Verbenaceae |
| Genus: | Lippia |
| Species: | L. alba |
| Binomial name | |
| Lippia alba | |
| Synonyms[2] | |
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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.[4] Common names include bushy matgrass,[1] bushy lippia, hierba negra,[3] juanilama, pamporegano, poleo and pitiona.[5] It is a multi-branched shrub, reaching a height of 1.5 m (4.9 ft). Leaves measure 1 to 3 cm (0.39 to 1.18 in) in length and 0.9 to 2 cm (0.35 to 0.79 in) in width and are opposite or in threes. Flowers with white, pink, or light blue-purple corollas form on spikes 2 cm (0.79 in) long.[6]
Bushy lippia is widely cultivated as an ornamental for its aromatic foliage and beautiful flowers.[3] 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.[6] The leaves are used for flavoring foods,[7] such as mole sauces from Oaxaca, Mexico.[8] The plant is used medicinally for its somatic, sedative, antidepressant, and analgesic properties.[9]
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