NIS - libdoc.who.int - World Health Organization

WHO monographs on medicinal plants commonly used in the Newly Independent States (NIS)
red-violet, may have short hairs on the corners (L. quinquelobatus has
long prominent hairs on the stem). Leaves decussate, pubescent or glabrous,
upper surface green, smooth, lower surface paler and markedly
pubescent (veins on the underside of L. quinquelobatus leaves are covered
by prominent hairs). Leaves, blades broadly ovate to nearly circular in
outline, long-petiolated, irregular serrate margin, acute apex, 7–12 cm
long; lower leaves 5–7 palmatisect; medium leaves 3-lobed or entire; upper
leaves elliptical, ovate base, with two prominent lateral dents, petiole
1–2 cm long (L. quinquelobatus has 3-palmatisect or 3-lobed leaves, rarely
entire). Inflorescence, long, spike-like, formed by verticillasters of
6–12 small flowers in the axils of the upper leaves. Bracts subulate, shorthaired
(L. quinquelobatus has prominent hairs on the bracts). Calyx
green, 5–6 mm long, funnel-shaped, with 5 equal pointed sepals (their
triangular apexes are 3–3.5 mm long; two of them are turned down). Corolla
2-lipped, longer than calyx, pink to whitish with purple spots on the
3-lobed lower lip; upper lip entire, hairy on the upper surface (sometimes
the upper lip of L. cardiaca is glabrous). Stamens 4, under upper lip, stigma
2-lobed. Fruit, triangular nutlet with a tuft of hairs at the tip, brown,
2.5–3 mm long (6, 16, 22–27).
Plant material of interest: dried aerial parts
General appearance
The stem pieces are hairy, longitudinally striated, quadrangular, hollow,
up to about 10 mm wide. They bear decussate, opposite, petiolate leaves
and about 6–12 flowers, arranged in sessile whorls forming a long leafy
spike. The leaves are ovate-orbicular, palmately 3–5-lobed, rarely 7-lobed,
the lobes irregularly dentate. The upper surface of the leaves is green with
scattered hairs, the lower surface is paler green, densely pubescent and
shows a prominent palmate and reticulate venation. The flowers have a
funnel-shaped calyx, 3–5 mm long with stiff, recurved teeth; the corolla is
2-lipped, the upper lip pink and pubescent on the outer surface, the lower
lip white with purplish spots; stamens 4, densely pubescent (1).
Organoleptic properties
Odour: strongly aromatic; taste: bitter (28).
Microscopic characteristics
Stem: transverse section shows stem ridged, four-angled with a central
hollow; epidermal cells longitudinally elongated with occasional diacytic
and anomocytic stomata, and numerous non-glandular trichomes; cover-
230