| HABIT: Perennial, semi-shrubby herb; stem to about 2 m high, much branched from base,
subquadrangular, thickened below to 1.8 cm in diam., densely lanate.
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| LEAVES: Leaves ovate-lanceolate to oblong-lanceolate, 3.6-16 x 1.3-7 cm, narrowed and
rounded at base, acute, crenate-serrate, slightly bullate and velvety lanate above, densely so
beneath; petioles 0.7-3.5 cm long, stout, lanate.
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| INFLORESCENCE: Racemes to 34.5 cm long; verticils close, dense; peduncles densely
lanate.
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| FLOWERS: Floral leaves 8-10 mm long, densely lanate. Bracts linear, to 5 mm long.
Calyx to 9 mm long; tube to 5 mm long, lanate without, glabrous within; lobes lanceolate, to
4 mm long, acuminate. Corolla 1.4-2 cm long; tube to 9 mm long, white, glabrous without;
arched, whitish; lower lip to 1 cm across, coral pink, with 2 white streaks towards base,
pilulose without with gland-tipped hairs, the lateral lobes shallowly rounded, the median one
larger, broadly orbicular, 2-fid. Style glabrous; branches linear, unequal. Nutlets ovoid, 2.5 x
1.5 mm, trigonous, glabrous, blackish-brown and shining.
|
| FLOWERING AND FRUITING TIME: November-December |
| The whole plant, but especially the leaves and the roots, is a powerful astringent, carminative, febrifuge and tonic |
| Different aspects of Anisomeles malabarica medicinal values are briefly demonstrated, such as potential anti-allergic, anti-anaphylactic, anti-bacterial, anticancer, anti-carcinogenic, anti-inflammatory, antiepileptic potential, antifertility, anti-pyretic activity and antispasmodic. |
| The plant is said to be a key ingredient of commercial insect repellents. |
