Leonotis leonurus, also known as lion's tail as well as wild dagga, is a plant types in the mint household, Lamiaceae. The plant is a broadleaf evergreen big shrub native to South Africa and southerly Africa, where it is really usual. It is recognized for its medical residential or commercial properties. The primary psychoactive component of Leonotis leonurus is claimed to be leonurine, Leonotis leonurus has been verified to have Leonurine according to peer examined journal published phytochemical analysis. Like various other plants in the mint household, it also includes marrubiin. The name 'wild dagga' web links it closely to cannabis as 'dagga' derived from the Khoikhoi 'dachab' is an aboriginal South African name for cannabis species. This name might be a misnomer, as no part of the plant is made use of as a hallucinogen.
The shrub expands 3 to 6 ft (1 to 2 m) tall by 1.5 to 3.5 feet (0.46 to 1.07 m) broad. When squashed, the medium-dark eco-friendly 2-- 4 inches (5.1-- 10.2 cm) long fallen leaves are aromatic. The plant has tubular orange flowers in tiered whorls, typical to the mint household, that surround the square stems. They rise above the foliage mass throughout the summertime period, with blooming proceeding into wintertime in warmer environments. A white selection (well-known colloquially as 'Alba') as well as a yellow selection likewise exist. The native habitat of leonotis leonurus perspires grasslands of southern Africa. It brings in nectivorous birds (primarily sunbirds), in addition to different insects such as butterflies. The blossoms' primarily orange to orange-red colour as well as tubular form are indicative of its co-evolution with African sunbirds, which have actually bent costs matched to feeding from tubular blossoms.
Leonotis leonurus is grown as a decorative plant for its copious orange bloom spikes as well as is made use of as an accent or screen in yards as well as parks. It is reasonably dry spell forgiving, and also a nectar resource for birds and also butterflies in landscape settings. It was introduced to Europe in the 1600s. Lion's tail can especially be found in various other subtropical and also Mediterranean climate areas past South Africa such as California, Hawaii, as well as Australia where it has naturalized in areas. In cooler climates it is utilized as a yearly and also winter months conservatory plant. Leonotis leonurus consists of numerous labdane diterpene based compounds such as Hispanolone, Leonurun and also Leoleorins C-N. One experimental animal research study recommends that the aqueous leaf essence of Leonotis leonurus possesses antinociceptive, antiinflammatory, as well as hypoglycemic properties.
The infusions made from seeds as well as blossoms, leaves or stems are extensively made use of to treat consumption, jaundice, muscle mass pains, high blood pressure, diabetes mellitus, viral hepatitis, dysentery, and diarrhea. The fallen leaves, roots and also bark are used as an emetic for snakebites, bee as well as scorpion stings. The fresh stem juice is utilized as an infusion drunk for 'blood contamination' in some locations of South Africa. The dried out leaves and also blossoms have a light relaxing result when smoked. In some individuals, the impacts have actually been kept in mind to be similar to the cannabinoid THC discovered in Cannabis, other than that it has a much less potent high. It has likewise been reported to create mild bliss, visual modifications, lightheadedness, nausea, sweating, faintness as well as sedation. It is occasionally used as a Cannabis substitute by entertainment customers as an alternative to unlawful psychoactive plants.