TROPICAL BUSHMINT
Also Known AsWild Basil [7]
CREOLE:
Radie Crise [7]
QUECHUA:
Yurika Jeq'ekama [7]
SPANISH:
Tres Filos [9]
BRAZIL: [NOTE: The following spellings may be incorrect - we should check them in Duke's book - 7]
Alfavaca de Cabloco [7]
A;favacao [7]
Mangericao [7]
Matapasio [7]
Oreja Micura [7]
Oveja Micana [7]
Sarnbacaita [7]
Soro Sacha [7]
PERU:
Albaca Cimarrosa [7]
Baria Rao [7]
SYNONYMS:
Nepeta mutabilis [7, 9]
The Atlas of Florida Plants now lists it as Cantinoa mutabilis.
Many synonyms are listed on theplantlist.org
NOTE: The Atlas of Florida Plants, which is usually proven correct in its research, lists this species as Cantinoa mutabilis.
CREOLE:
Radie Crise [7]
QUECHUA:
Yurika Jeq'ekama [7]
SPANISH:
Tres Filos [9]
BRAZIL: [NOTE: The following spellings may be incorrect - we should check them in Duke's book - 7]
Alfavaca de Cabloco [7]
A;favacao [7]
Mangericao [7]
Matapasio [7]
Oreja Micura [7]
Oveja Micana [7]
Sarnbacaita [7]
Soro Sacha [7]
PERU:
Albaca Cimarrosa [7]
Baria Rao [7]
SYNONYMS:
Nepeta mutabilis [7, 9]
The Atlas of Florida Plants now lists it as Cantinoa mutabilis.
Many synonyms are listed on theplantlist.org
NOTE: The Atlas of Florida Plants, which is usually proven correct in its research, lists this species as Cantinoa mutabilis.
Edible Parts
Animal Interaction
Other Uses
I see this non-native blue-flowering bushmint all across Florida. It is not native to Florida, and yet it is found in most counties except for a handful of them in the very southern part of the state. The website Useful Tropical Plants claims that there are no known hazards for this species, however, the brilliant James Duke [recently deceased] lists it as an abortifacient, so I would advise NOT INGESTING IT without the supervision of a trained herbalist. Also, I feel that the strong, unusual scent is some sort of warning to us humans. DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH BEFORE INGESTION. That said, here are some of the indigenous medicinal uses from Tropical America. A leaf tea is made to relieve stomach aches. In the Guianas "the juice from the crushed leaves is used as a children's vermifuge, in the form of a drink or a body-rub" and the pounded fresh leaves are applied to cuts and sores. A Brazilian study using the leaf extract on mice concluded that it is a promising agent in the treatment of some tumors. The small blue to light purple tubular flowers attract butterflies and other insects. NOTE: The University of South Florida now lists this species as Cantinoa mutabilis.
CAUTION: The website Useful Tropical Plants claims that there are no known hazards for this species, however, the brilliant James Duke [recently deceased] lists it as an abortifacient, so I would advise NOT INGESTING IT without the supervision of a trained herbalist. Also, I feel that the strong, unusual scent is some sort of warning to us humans. DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH BEFORE INGESTION.
NO KNOWN HAZARDS: According to the website Useful Tropical Plants. [4]
MEDICINAL ACTIONS: James Duke lists it in his classic Duke's Handbook of Medicinal Plants of Latin America as an abortifacient, carminative, febrifuge, sedative, stomachic, sudorific, tonic, and vermifuge. [7]
MEDICINAL USES:
- CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA: Jim Duke lists its indications as: corneosis, fever, gas, insomnia, laryngosis, opthalmia, sores, stings, and worms. [7]
- BRAZIL: A Brazilian study using various leaf extracts on mice concluded "the aqueous extracts of Hyptis mutabilis showed promising results against sarcoma 180 mice tumor." [10] Duke writes, "Brazilians use the plant juice to remove corneal opacities." [7]
- GUATEMALA: Flora of Guatemala writes, "It is sometimes gathered from the wild for local medicinal use." [4C]
- THE GUIANAS: In the Guianas "the juice from the crushed leaves is used as a children's vermifuge, in the form of a drink or a body-rub." [4B] In the Guiyanas, "it is pounded in an infusion for treating bowel problems." [4B]
- ALSO: "A tea made from the leaves is used as a remedy for pains in the stomach." [6]
DOSAGE: Jim Duke mentions that other related species are "used as a nibble or in teas." [7]
EXTERNAL MEDICINAL USES: In the Guianas the leaves are "used externally, they are pounded and placed on sores or cuts with good effect." [4B] In the Guianas, "the whole plant is pounded and mixed with salt for treating 'buck sick' ('Carib sick')." [4B]
CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS: "The plant contains an essential oil rich in sesquiterpene." [4B, via 4] "Its major constituent, (-)-globulol." [8] "An analysis of the hydrodistilled essential oil from fresh aerial parts of Hyptis mutabilis (Rich) Briq. by GC/MS resulted in the identification of 24 compounds that represented 95.5 percent of the oil. The main constituents of the oil were E-caryophyllene (14.7%), spathulenol (14.2%) and germacrene D (11.1%)." [12]
BUTTERFLY ATTRACTANT: The small blue to light purple tubular flowers attract butterflies and other insect pollinators.
MEDICINAL ACTIONS: James Duke lists it in his classic Duke's Handbook of Medicinal Plants of Latin America as an abortifacient, carminative, febrifuge, sedative, stomachic, sudorific, tonic, and vermifuge. [7]
MEDICINAL USES:
- CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA: Jim Duke lists its indications as: corneosis, fever, gas, insomnia, laryngosis, opthalmia, sores, stings, and worms. [7]
- BRAZIL: A Brazilian study using various leaf extracts on mice concluded "the aqueous extracts of Hyptis mutabilis showed promising results against sarcoma 180 mice tumor." [10] Duke writes, "Brazilians use the plant juice to remove corneal opacities." [7]
- GUATEMALA: Flora of Guatemala writes, "It is sometimes gathered from the wild for local medicinal use." [4C]
- THE GUIANAS: In the Guianas "the juice from the crushed leaves is used as a children's vermifuge, in the form of a drink or a body-rub." [4B] In the Guiyanas, "it is pounded in an infusion for treating bowel problems." [4B]
- ALSO: "A tea made from the leaves is used as a remedy for pains in the stomach." [6]
DOSAGE: Jim Duke mentions that other related species are "used as a nibble or in teas." [7]
EXTERNAL MEDICINAL USES: In the Guianas the leaves are "used externally, they are pounded and placed on sores or cuts with good effect." [4B] In the Guianas, "the whole plant is pounded and mixed with salt for treating 'buck sick' ('Carib sick')." [4B]
CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS: "The plant contains an essential oil rich in sesquiterpene." [4B, via 4] "Its major constituent, (-)-globulol." [8] "An analysis of the hydrodistilled essential oil from fresh aerial parts of Hyptis mutabilis (Rich) Briq. by GC/MS resulted in the identification of 24 compounds that represented 95.5 percent of the oil. The main constituents of the oil were E-caryophyllene (14.7%), spathulenol (14.2%) and germacrene D (11.1%)." [12]
BUTTERFLY ATTRACTANT: The small blue to light purple tubular flowers attract butterflies and other insect pollinators.
NATIVE TO: "Caribbean to Florida [?]. South America [Argentina and Uruguay] north through Central America to Mexico." [4]
"The plant is a common weed in some parts of the Americas, and is recorded as 'Invasive' in some Pacific Islands." [5]
NOT NATIVE: In the U.S, in occurs in Virginia, and from South Carolina westward to Louisiana. [2] In Florida, it is found in moist counties except for a handful of them in far south Florida. [1]
HABITAT: Woodland edges, disturbed areas.
CLASSIFICATION: The University of South Florida now lists it as Cantinoa mutabilis.
RELATED SPECIES: "The Hyptis genus has more than 400 species, many of them being used in folk medicine to treat several conditions." [10]
DESCRIPTION: Herbaceous flowering perennial. "Coarse, erect." [4B] "Often much branched." [4]
ANDY'S NOTE: Flora of Guatemala [4C] lists it as an annual. I know it to be perennial for certain here in Florida.
HEIGHT: To 6' tall. [4]
STEM: Square, sometimes with maroon-colored edges.
LEAVES: Opposite.
FLOWERS: Racemes.
CULTURE:
PROPAGATION: By seeds. [4] By clump division.
"The plant is a common weed in some parts of the Americas, and is recorded as 'Invasive' in some Pacific Islands." [5]
NOT NATIVE: In the U.S, in occurs in Virginia, and from South Carolina westward to Louisiana. [2] In Florida, it is found in moist counties except for a handful of them in far south Florida. [1]
HABITAT: Woodland edges, disturbed areas.
CLASSIFICATION: The University of South Florida now lists it as Cantinoa mutabilis.
RELATED SPECIES: "The Hyptis genus has more than 400 species, many of them being used in folk medicine to treat several conditions." [10]
DESCRIPTION: Herbaceous flowering perennial. "Coarse, erect." [4B] "Often much branched." [4]
ANDY'S NOTE: Flora of Guatemala [4C] lists it as an annual. I know it to be perennial for certain here in Florida.
HEIGHT: To 6' tall. [4]
STEM: Square, sometimes with maroon-colored edges.
LEAVES: Opposite.
FLOWERS: Racemes.
CULTURE:
PROPAGATION: By seeds. [4] By clump division.
More Details
Flower Color
Blue
Habitat
Disturbed Woodland Edges
Native?
Non-Native
Plant Form
Herbaceous Perennial Herb
Height
6 feet
Width
3 feet
Blue
Habitat
Disturbed Woodland Edges
Native?
Non-Native
Plant Form
Herbaceous Perennial Herb
Height
6 feet
Width
3 feet
References
[1] Atlas of Florida Plants
[2] USDA
[3] southeasternflora.com
[4] Useful Tropical Plants
[4B] Medicinal Plants of the Guianas, by DeFilipps, R. A.; Maina, S. L.; & Crepin, J., published in Smithsonian Museum [botany.si.edu, via 4]
[4C] Flora of Guatemala, by Standley P.C. & J. A. Steyermark [archive.org]
[5] Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk
[6] Dictionary of Economic Plants
[7] Duke's Handbook of Medicinal Plants of Latin America by James Duke
[8] THE ESSENTIAL OIL OF HYPTIS MUTABILIS IN ICHTHYOPHTHIRIUS MULTIFILIIS INFECTION AND ITS EFFECT ON HEMATOLOGICAL, BIOCHEMICAL AND IMMUNOLOGICAL PARAMETERS IN SILVER CATFISH, RHAMDIA QUELEN, 2017.
[9] hear.org
[10] Antitumor Activity of Leaves from Hyptis mutabilis (A. Rich.) Briq. (Lamiaceae) in Mice Bearing Tumor - from Dataset Papers in Pharmacology - A Brazilian report
[11] Volatile Constituents of Hyptis mutabilis - an article on The Journal of Essential Oil Research, 2011 [I was not able to access this article the last time that I checked - 12-13-2017]
[12] Antimicrobial Activity and Composition of Hyptis mutabilis Essential Oil - Journal of Herbs, Spices, and Medicinal Plants, 2006
[2] USDA
[3] southeasternflora.com
[4] Useful Tropical Plants
[4B] Medicinal Plants of the Guianas, by DeFilipps, R. A.; Maina, S. L.; & Crepin, J., published in Smithsonian Museum [botany.si.edu, via 4]
[4C] Flora of Guatemala, by Standley P.C. & J. A. Steyermark [archive.org]
[5] Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk
[6] Dictionary of Economic Plants
[7] Duke's Handbook of Medicinal Plants of Latin America by James Duke
[8] THE ESSENTIAL OIL OF HYPTIS MUTABILIS IN ICHTHYOPHTHIRIUS MULTIFILIIS INFECTION AND ITS EFFECT ON HEMATOLOGICAL, BIOCHEMICAL AND IMMUNOLOGICAL PARAMETERS IN SILVER CATFISH, RHAMDIA QUELEN, 2017.
[9] hear.org
[10] Antitumor Activity of Leaves from Hyptis mutabilis (A. Rich.) Briq. (Lamiaceae) in Mice Bearing Tumor - from Dataset Papers in Pharmacology - A Brazilian report
[11] Volatile Constituents of Hyptis mutabilis - an article on The Journal of Essential Oil Research, 2011 [I was not able to access this article the last time that I checked - 12-13-2017]
[12] Antimicrobial Activity and Composition of Hyptis mutabilis Essential Oil - Journal of Herbs, Spices, and Medicinal Plants, 2006
Last Updated: October 24, 2018