Mesosphaerum suaveolens

Mesosphaerum suaveolens, synonym Hyptis suaveolens, the 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.[2] 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.[3]

Mesosphaerum suaveolens
Mesosphaerum suaveolens (Vilayti Tulsi) in Hyderabad
Scientific 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

Uses

Studies have found that M. suaveolens is effective as an insecticide.[4][5]

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.

See also

References
  1. "Mesosphaerum suaveolens (L.) Kuntze", Plants of the World Online, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, retrieved 2019-10-11
  2. Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families
  3. "Weeds of Australia Factsheet — Hyptis suaveolens". Archived from the original on 2014-02-22. Retrieved 2014-02-15.
  4. Cyrille Adda, Pierre Atachi, Kerstin Hell, and Manuele Tamò. Potential use of the Bushmint, M. suaveolens, for the Control of Infestation by the Pink Stalk Borer, Sesamia calamistis, on Maize in Southern Benin, West Africa
  5. Conti et al. Hyptis suaveolens and Hyptis spicigera (Lamiaceae) essential oils:qualitative analysis, contact toxicity and repellent activity against Sitophilus granarius.
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