Mesosphaerum suaveolens

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

  1. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference POWO_158297-2 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Wood, John R.I.; Bedolla Garcia, Brenda Yudith; Pink, Lynsey; King, Christabel (June 2022). "1028. SALVIA HISPANICA: Lamiaceae". Curtis's Botanical Magazine. 39 (2): 359–378. doi:10.1111/curt.12443. ISSN 1355-4905.
  3. ^ Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families
  4. ^ "Weeds of Australia Factsheet — Hyptis suaveolens". Archived from the original on 2014-02-22. Retrieved 2014-02-15.