Bushy Matgrass Plant ( Lippia alba) right on my doorstep

 

Feel Free to take a cutting of this plant!

Lippia alba

Lippia alba -  I bought this plant from a nursery in Trivandrum. And, in few months, it has grown beyond it's size and now it has grown over the fence. This plant has a strong, pleasant, and lemony fragrance. 

If you like to grow this in your garden, you can take a free cutting from one of the hanging parts. Or you can buy a potted plant from here!

Botanical Description

Lippia alba is a straggling shrub reaching heights of 4–6 feet. Its leaves are lance-shaped, aromatic, and arranged oppositely. The plant produces bluish-purple flowers in solitary spikes or cylindrical heads. It is native to South America and has been naturalized in parts of India .

Native to:

It is native to southern Texas in the United States, Mexico, Argentina....flora of the Cayman Islands

Introduced into:

Andaman, Assam, India. Basically, it's not native to India, though it's wide spread in Kerala, esp in Allapuzha side. 

Traditional Medicinal Uses ( Haven't found any reference to Ayurveda)

In traditional medicine, Lippia alba has been utilized for various ailments: ( Benefícios incríveis da erva cidreira ( Amazing Benefits of Lemon Balm ) - From a site:

• Digestive Issues: The leaves are used to treat stomachaches, diarrhea, and as a digestive aid.
• Sedative and Anxiolytic: The plant exhibits sedative properties, helping to reduce anxiety and promote relaxation.
• Antimicrobial Activity: Essential oils derived from Lippia alba have shown antimicrobial properties against various pathogens

Source: https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:141020-2     ( Not verified )

Low Maintenance. It requires less care and grows in full sun to partial shade. ( Feel free to grow in your house front-yard or backyard depending on the availability of space. I have planted in two place. One also on the side of the house. And, now on discovering it's fragrant smell, and ease of growing, I plan to grow it other spots. 

This easy-to-care-for plant is also perfect for apartment balconies, thanks to its subtle fragrance and minimal maintenance needs. Just a gentle press on the leaves releases a refreshing lemony aroma—making it a great little conversation starter when guests drop by.

Lippia alba contains several bioactive compounds:

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

• Essential Oils: Rich in monoterpenes such as citral, limonene, and linalool.
• Flavonoids: Compounds like flavone glycosides contribute to its antioxidant activity.

Also, known as bushy matgrass or Juanilama, Hierba Negra, and Pitiona. 

Wiki: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lippia_alba

Mode of Propagation: Seeds, Cuttings

( I'm growing cutting in a black cover - just Rs 49 for one sapling) 

This makes the fragrance highly versatile and sought after in aromatherapy and traditional medicine, especially for calming and digestive purposes.

In summary, the most commonly found fragrance of Lippia alba in India and Kerala is a refreshing lemon-like aroma, often used to make calming teas, scented oils, and traditional herbal remedies.

Common English Names of Lippia Alba Plant:

• Bushy Lippia
• Bushy Matgrass
• White Lippia
• Lemon Verbena 
• Fver tea (in Caribbean regions)

Made this tag and tied it to the plant!