Leonotis leonurus

Propagation

Leonurus can be propagated by cuttings, divisions, or seeds, of which many are produced and germinate.[1][1][2]

Germination

Seeds are reportedly easy to germinate.[1] They can be sown in garden flats using standard potting mix.[2]

Germination takes two to three weeks.[2]

Seedlings should be transplanted to the garden when 300-400 mm tall.[2]

[3] [4] [3]

Vegetative

[5]

Cuttings ready for planting can be produced in five to six months.[6]

Division

1. Lift root clump from soil using spade
2. Divide into vigorous-looking sections
3. Remove dead portions
4. Replant in prepared bed
5. Water immediately and frequently until established[7]

In-Vitro

Cultivation

The Lion’s tail is easily grown in almost any type of soil and situation but prefers warmth and reasonably well-drained soil.[1]

Leonurus stems can break in high winds.[2]

Leonurus prefers full sun.[2]

[6]

Harvest

Aerial parts of leonurus are cut 20cm from the ground for drying though the woody stems are removed for processing.[6]

There are some reports that leonurus doesn’t flower in the first year from seed, though this might be due to adverse conditions (pot-bound or poor fertilization).[9] The PlantZAfrica website suggests they will flower in their first or second season.[2]

[10] [6]

Yield

[6]

Soilless

[5] [11]

Soil

[6]

Fertilization

Nitrogen application to field-grown leonurus increases wet biomass yield. Application of 180-240 kg N/ha seems sufficient, though there was a nonsignificant trend toward an increased yield at higher application rates (up to the max of 360 kg N/ha). Dry mass was, unfortunately, not given.[6]

[5] [12] [11]

[6]

Temperature

Hardy zones 8a-11b.[1] Tolerates moderate to severe frost.[2]

Leonurus shrubs may be cut back in winter and will regrow in spring.[1][1][2]

Leonurus is tolerant to extreme heat, drought, and dry soils.[1]

Lighting

Pests

The Bush Bronze butterfly (Cacyreus lingeus) use leonotis for food.[2]

Leonurus seeds do not need to be treated with fungicide prior to sowing.[2]

Ecology

Leonurus is native to South Africa (Transvaal, KwaZulu-Natal and the Cape). It grows on forest margins, river banks, rocky hillsides, or tall grasslands.[13]

Leonurus is a favorite of pollinators like hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies, but is ignored by deer.[1][2] Pollinated primarily by birds (sunbirds) in its native habitat.[2]

Found at altitudes from 5-1980 meters.[2]

[3]

Morphology

Leonurus is a perennial shrub with a woody base and herbaceous stems.[1][13]

[13]

Roots

[13]

Stem

[13]

Leaves

The leaves are petiolate, densely pubescent, narrowly ovate to linear, serrate margins, with upper and lower surfaces of different colors (discolorous).[13]

The leaves are highly aromatic when crushed.[2]

[13]

Inflorescence

Pale yellow pollen.[13]

[3] [13]

Seeds

Leonurus is distinguished from all other Lenotis spp. by nutlet shape:

L. lenorus has an oblique, undefined rim between the ventral surfaces rather than the distinct rim found on the nutlets of all other taxa. This character readily distinguishes L. leonurus from the morphologically similar L. decandonta var vestita that has long been mistaken for L. leonurus in tropical Africa.[13]

Phytochemistry

The phytochemical profile is unchanged by nitrogen fertilization, despite large differences in yield.[6]

The leaves and flowers are the primary medicinal portion.[14]

Infraspecific Variation

Biosynthesis

Distribution

Timecourse

Improvement

A white-flowered variety has been developed. Crosses between the orange and white varieties produce apricot-colored or off-white flowers.[2]

Identification

L. decadonta has been mistakenly identified as leonurus in many collections.[13] Similarly, L. nepetifolia has been sold as leonurus.[15]

Inheritance

Methods

History & Society

Leonurus is sometimes sold at big box stores.[16]

[2] [14]

Work Log

27 Apr 2024

Bibliography

1. Werner, H. F., Some South African Herbaceous Perennials and Their Cultivation, Veld \& Flora, vol. 41, no. 1, pp. 16, January 1955. doi: 10.10520/AJA00423203_2045.
2. Turner, Sharon, Leonotis Leonurus, PlantZAfrica, May 2015. url: http://pza.sanbi.org/leonotis-leonurus. Abstract
   This plant is a firm favourite in South African gardens for its colourful flower display coupled with its ability to attract nectar feeding sunbirds by the dozen. It also flowers for many months of the year providing a long and rewarding display.
3. Norris, Fiona Getliffe, Pollination Ecology of Leonotis Leonurus, Veld \& Flora, vol. 75, no. 1, pp. 7--10, 1989.
4. Ruwanza, S. and Gaertner, M. and Esler, K. J. and Richardson, D. M., The Effectiveness of Active and Passive Restoration on Recovery of Indigenous Vegetation in Riparian Zones in the Western Cape, South Africa: A Preliminary Assessment, South African Journal of Botany, vol. 88, pp. 132--141, September 2013. doi: 10.1016/j.sajb.2013.06.022. Abstract
   Riparian ecosystems in South Africa's fynbos biome are heavily invaded by alien woody plants. Although large-scale clearing of these species is underway, the assumption that native vegetation will self-repair after clearing has not been thoroughly tested. Understanding the processes that mediate the recruitment of native species following clearing of invasive species is crucial for optimising restoration techniques. This study aimed to determine native species recovery patterns following implementation of different management interventions. We tested the influence of two clearing treatments (“fell \& remove” and “fell \& stack burn”) on the outcomes of passive restoration (natural recovery of native riparian species) and active restoration (seed sowing and planting of cuttings) along the Berg River in the Western Cape. Under greenhouse conditions we investigated seed viability and germination pre-treatments of selected native species. There was no recruitment of native species in sites that were not seeded (passive restoration sites), possibly because of the dominance of alien herbaceous species and graminoids or the lack of native species in the soil-stored seed bank. Germination of our targeted native species in the field was low in both “fell \& remove” and “fell \& stack burn” treatments. However, “fell \& stack burn” gave better germination for the species Searsia angustifolia, Leonotis leonurus and Melianthus major. Seedling survival in the field was significantly reduced in summer, with drought stress being the main cause for seedling mortality. Germination rates in the greenhouse were high, an indication that harvested seeds were viable. Most seeds germinated without germination pre-treatments. We conclude that failure of native seeds to germinate under field conditions, secondary invasion of alien herbs and graminoids, the lack of native species in the soil-stored seed bank, and dry summer conditions hamper seedling establishment and recovery on sites cleared of dense stands of alien trees. For active restoration to achieve its goals, effective recruitment and propagation strategies need to be established.
5. Amico Roxas, U. and Iapichino, G. and Accardo Palombo, S. and Bertolino, M., Suitability of a Native South African Shrub as Pot Plant, Acta Horticulturae, no. 723, pp. 437--440, November 2006. doi: 10.17660/ActaHortic.2006.723.62.
6. Prinsloo, G. and Viljoen, J.C. and Du Plooy, C.P., Nitrogen Fertiliser Requirements of the South African Medicinal Plant Leonotis Leonurus Used in Traditional Healing Practices, Acta Horticulturae, no. 925, pp. 221--228, December 2011. doi: 10.17660/ActaHortic.2011.925.32.
7. Joffe, Pitta, Easy Guide to Indigenous Shrubs, 2003.
8. Leonotis Leonurus (The Lion’s Ear), Center for the Study of the Built Environment, 2021. url: https://www.csbe.org/leonotis-leonurus-the-lions-ear.
9. {big-spongebub}, Leonotis Leonurus Not Blooming, r/druggardening, November 2021. url: www.reddit.com/r/druggardening/comments/qwbfr6/leonotis_leonurus_not_blooming/.
10. Meir, S. and Salim, S. and {Philosoph-Hadas}, S., Leonotis Leonurus as a Potential New Crop for Cut Flower Production: A Postharvest Perspective, Acta Horticulturae, no. 813, pp. 233--240, March 2009. doi: 10.17660/ActaHortic.2009.813.30.
11. Teto, A. A. and Laubscher, C. P. and Ndakidemi, P. A. and Matimati, I., Paclobutrazol Retards Vegetative Growth in Hydroponically-Cultured Leonotis Leonurus (L.) R.Br. Lamiaceae for a Multipurpose Flowering Potted Plant, South African Journal of Botany, vol. 106, pp. 67--70, September 2016. doi: 10.1016/j.sajb.2016.05.012. Abstract
    Leonotis leonurus (L.) R.Br.; Lamiaceae is an indigenous southern African plant of commercial interest, which grows up to 3m tall and 1.5m wide, thus making it difficult to cultivate for the potted flowering plant industry. We tested different rates of a growth retardant paclobutrazol for retarding vegetative growth of L. leonurus for use as a flowering potted plant. The aim of the study was to determine the ideal rate of paclobutrazol from treatments of 0 (control), 2, 4, 8 and 16mg active ingredient (a.i.) per plant applied to rooted cuttings of 8±0.5cm in height. Plants which received 2mg a.i. were marginally shorter than the untreated control, while those treated with 4, 8, and 16mg a.i of paclobutrazol were greatly dwarfed. Plants treated with 4, 8 and 16mg a.i of paclobutrazol were seriously stunted, rosette, with senescing leaves and low fresh and dry weights. The concentration of 4mg a.i caused the largest dwarfing with plants in this treatment only weighing 32\% of the total fresh weight of the control and 31\% of the total dry weight of the control plants. We therefore recommend the application of as little as 2mg a.i. of paclobutrazol as an alternative way of chemically inducing dwarfing in L. leonurus, for producing flowering potted plants.
12. Prinsloo, G. and du Plooy, C. P., Influence of Nitrogenous and Phosphatic Fertilizers Types and Rates on the Yield and Chemical Profile of Sutherlandia Frutescens and Leonotis Leonurus., International Journal of Agriculture and Biology, vol. 19, no. 5, pp. 1107--1112, 2017. doi: 10.17957/IJAB/15.0391. Abstract
    Sutherlandia frutescens and Leonotis leonurus are two important medicinal plants used traditionally to treat diabetes and inflammation harvested mainly from natural resources. The shift from subsistence to commercial trade necessitates research into cultivation, and hence information is needed for commercial production of these species. The effects of nitrogen (N) and phosphate (P) fertilizers in...
13. Iwarsson, Mattias and Harvey, Yvette, Monograph of the Genus Leonotis (Pers.) R. Br. (Lamiaceae), Kew Bulletin, vol. 58, no. 3, pp. 597--645, 2003. doi: 10.2307/4111146. Abstract
    In this revision of the genus Leonotis four new taxa are described and illustrated: L. grandis Iwarsson \& Y. B. Harv. from the Southern Highlands of Tanzania, N Malawi and NE Zambia; L. decadonta Gürke var. porotoensis Iwarsson \& Y. B. Harv. from the Southern Highlands of Tanzania; L. myricifolia Iwarsson \& Y. B. Harv. from the Southern Highlands of Tanzania, E Zambia and N Malawi; and L. myrothamnifolia Iwarsson \& Y. B. Harv. from the Mafinga Hills bordering Malawi and Zambia. The new combination L. decadonta Gürke var. vestita (Briq.) Iwarsson \&: Y. B. Harv. is made and differences between the varieties of L. decadonta are described. A lectotype is selected for L. decadonta. This work accepts both varieties of L. nepetifolia (L.) R. Br., var. nepetifolia and the recently much-ignored var. africana (P. Beauv.) J. K. Morton.
14. Nsuala, Baudry and Kamatou, Guy and Enslin, Gill, Leonotis Leonurus, pp. 305--320, January 2023. doi: 10.1016/B978-0-323-99794-2.00004-0. Abstract
    Leonotis leonurus (L.) R.Br. (Lamiaceae), commonly known as ‘wild dagga’, is a broadleaf evergreen plant indigenous to southern Africa. It is naturally distributed throughout the Eastern and Western Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga provinces of South Africa, as well as certain parts of Zimbabwe and Mozambique. The plant is widely known for its medicinal and psychoactive properties. The leaves or flowers are administered in various forms such as decoctions or infusions. It is smoked for its mild euphoric effects, which are believed to be similar to that of cannabis, but with less potency. A decoction is used to relieve coughs, colds, bronchitis, and as a strong purgative and emmenagogue whilst infusions are used to treat chest infections, fever, headache, influenza and delayed menstruation. Gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC–MS) analysis of the essential oils obtained by hydro-distillation revealed eight major constituents (trans-β-ocimene, cis-β-ocimene, β-caryophyllene, caryophyllene oxide, α-humulene, γ-elemene, α-cubebene and germacrene D), which represent about 50\% of the total oil composition. Ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (UPLC–MS) and photodiode array detection profiles from dichloromethane:methanol (50:50 v/v) extracts revealed the presence of leoleorin A, leoleorin D, luteolin, 6-methoxyluteolin-4′-methyl ether and 9,13-epoxylabda-6(19),15(14)diol dilactone in samples collected from distinct populations. Using a semi-automated high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) system, the chemical profiles of both the volatile oils and extracts were obtained. The marker compound, marrubiin, was identified in the chemical fingerprints of all the non-volatile samples on HPTLC plates viewed under white reflectance light, whilst the standard caryophyllene oxide appeared in all the volatile oils viewed under 366nm radiation.
15. {krmpfnfll}, Leonotis Leonurus, r/druggardening, July 2020. url: www.reddit.com/r/druggardening/comments/ho0j5r/leonotis_leonurus/.
16. {yabezuno}, Scored Wild Dagga at Home Depot, r/druggardening, October 2021. url: www.reddit.com/r/druggardening/comments/qf3y86/scored_wild_dagga_at_home_depot/.