Leucas aspera
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Leucas aspera | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Lamiales |
| Family: | Lamiaceae |
| Genus: | Leucas |
| Species: | L. aspera |
| Binomial name | |
| Leucas aspera (Willd.) Link | |
Leucas aspera is a plant species within the genus Leucas and the family Lamiaceae. Although the species has many different common names depending on the region in which it is located, it is most commonly known as Thumbai or Thumba. Found throughout India, it is known for its various uses in the fields of medicine and agriculture.[1]
Habitat and ecology
Leucas aspera is typically found in dry, open, sandy soil and is abundant in areas with waste.[3]
Morphology and anatomy
It is an annual herb or undershrub[4] that can reach heights of 15–60 cm (6–24 in).[2]
- Leaves
- Opposite, subsessile or short petioled,linear or narrowly oblong- lanceolate,entire or distantly crenate, obtuse, narrowed at the base.[4] They can reach up to lengths of 8 cm (3.1 in), and be 1.25 cm (0.49 in) broad. The length of petioles is typically 2.5–6 mm (0.098–0.236 in) long. The leaves epidermis is covered in a thick waxy cuticle and is traversed with stomata.[2]
- Stem
- The stem is quadrangular, much branched, hispid or scabrid[4] and contains a wide stele. The epidermis of the stem is covered in a thick waxy cuticle and contains few traversed stomata. Typically in younger stems the xylem tissue is radially organized and the parenchymatous pholem tissue is very narrow. As the stem ages the pholem tissue widens and can be found on both sides of the radial xylem tissue.[2]
- Roots
- The roots of Leucas aspera contains epidermal cells which are very narrow and closely packed together. The cell walls of the epidermal cells are very thin, flattened and straight. The parenchyma in the cortex contains thick walls. The parenchyma cells are polygonally shaped and contain a large amount of starch grains. The cambium separates the phloem and xylem, which are globose to subglobose.[2]
