Hyptis suaveolens (L.) Poit. - LAMIACEAE - Dicotyledon

Basionym : Ballota suaveolens L.

Common name : wild spikenard, bush tea.

Botany Biology Phenology Ecology Distribution Agricultural importance

Botany :

Description :

Terrestrial, annual, erect, aromatic herb, up to 200 cm tall. Taproot white or brown. Stem quadrangular, hollow, (glandular) hairy. Leaves simple, entire, opposite, stalked, ovate, hairy on both sides, margin coarsely dentate, papillae present, apex acute, base cordate or rounded, pinnately veined. Flowers bisexual, gouped together in an axillary head, sessile, petals 5, white. Fruit a nut.

Biology :

Propagated by seed. Seed in flower heads spread by water. Seeds also dispersed by animals, humans, vehicles( including slashers and when attached to fur, clothing and mud. Often a contaminant in pasture grass seed. As with H. capitata, the seed can remain dormant under the rainforest canopy for many years until an opening is created.

Phenology :

Flowering November to February: fruiting December to March.

Ecology :

Widely spread at low altitudes.

Distribution :

Pantropical originating from tropical America.

Agricultural importance :

A weed of roadsides and pastures, considered dangerous to livestock.

Remarks :
The seed coat becomes sticky when wet.

References :
-AICAF. 1997. Weeds in the tropics. Association for International Cooperation of Agriculture and Forestry, Japan.
-Henty E.E. and G.S. Pritchard. 1973. Weeds of New Guinea and their control. Botany bulletin No 7.
-Smith, A. C. 1985. Flora Vitiensis nova: a new flora of Fiji. National Tropical Botanical Garden, Lawai, Kauai, Hawaii. Volume 3. 758 pp.
-Soerjani M., Kostermans A. J. G. H., Tjitrosoepomo G. 1987. Weeds of rice in Indonesia. Balai Pustaka. Jakarta.
-Tavatchai Radanachaless, J.F.Maxwell. 1994. Weeds of soybean fields in Thailand. Multiple Cropping, Center Publications. Thailand.

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