| HABIT : An annualerect, profusely branched, sweet-smelling herb. |
| STEM : Stems and branches quadrangular, densely softly hairy, grooved sometimes
purplish, internodes 3-7 cm long.
|
| LEAVES : Petiolate, broadly ovate, acute at apex, cordate or rounded at base, irregularly
serrate margins, glabrous thinly minutely hairy above, pubescent, villous or tomentose
beneath.
|
| FLOWERS : Blue or bluish-purple, rarely solitary, in axillary and terminal, sometimes 8-15 cm long, lax panicles. |
| FRUIT : Nutlets 2, oblong or ovoid, flat, glabrous, blackish-brown, emarginated at apex with
a white mark on either side of the pointed base.
|
| FLOWERING AND FRUITING TIME : September-April. |
| Hyptis suaveolens is used by the traditional population in several parts of the world to treat inflammation, gastric ulcer and infection and is used as a crude drug to relieve symptoms related with gastric ulcer or gastritis in northeaster and central region of Brazil. |
| The leaves, stems, inflorescence, and roots are used to treat urinary calculi , stomach pain, healing, itching, boil, eczema, diabetes ,pneumonia , and fever. |
| M. suaveolens has also been used for the treatment of diseases in animals. Such use is reported in India for the treatment of inflammation in cattle, with the juice of the leaves being applied to the animal’s eyes. |
