Leonotis nepetifolia

• Botanical Name : Leonotis nepetifolia (L.) R.Br.
• Synonyms : Phlomis nepetifolia L.
• Common Name : Deep Mal, Matishul, Lion's Ear, Annual Lion's Ear, Christmas Candle Stick
• Plant Family : Lamiaceae (Labiatae)
• Plant Form : Herb
• Occurrence (Special Areas) : Indroda Park

About Leonotis nepetifolia Plant :

• Habit : A tall, erect plant with square stem, hairy.
• Leaves : Large, ovate, lobed, acute, coarsely crenate-serrate, hairy narrow running into petiole, which is winged in the upper part or narrow and cuneate.
• Inflorescence : Axillary dense, globose many flowered verticillasters
• Flowers :
  • Floral leaves lanceolate, deflexed, bracts linear, strongly spinous-pointed, deflexed.
  • Calyx tubular, incurved, hairy, teeth 8-9 sharp pointed.
  • Corolla bilabiate, orange-scarlet, hairy, upper lip densely woody, lower lip, 3-lobed.
  • Stamens 4, didynamous.
  • Ovary 4-lobed.
• Fruit : Nutlets 4, ovoid.
• Flowering and Fruiting Time : October - November
• Significance : The flower-heads are known to be mixed with curds and applied to ring worm and other itchy diseases of skin.