Tetradenia riparia (Hochst.) N. E. Br.

• Common Name: Nutmeg Bush, Mochasma
• Family: Lamiaceae Lindl.

• Country of Origin: South Africa - Natal, Transvaal
• Habitat:

• Description: [syn. Iboza riparia (Hochst.) N.E. Br.]

  Stout dioecious herb, 3-6 feet tall, white-pubescent, aromatic; leaves broadly ovate, 4-6 inches long, to 5 inches wide, slightly to deeply crenate, petioled; panicle mostly 8-15 inches long; calyx to 1/16 inch long, corolla unequally 4-5 lobed, to 3/16 inch long, white.

• Uses: Medicinal: Moderate antimalarial activity of the leaf essential oil against two strains of Plasmodium falciparum has been reported 7. The diterpene diol 8 (14), 15-sandaracopimaradiene-7α,18-diol has been shown to possess papaverine-like antispasmodic activity on methacholine, histamine and barium chloride-induced contractions of guinea pig ileum as well as on noradrenaline-induced contractions of rabbit aorta 3. Leaf extracts (80% ethanol), tested for antimicrobial and antiviral activity, inhibited the growth of Staphylococcus aureus, Candida albicans, Mycobacterium smegmatis, Microsporum canis, Trichophyton mentagrophytes and Bacillus subtilis. No antiviral activity against Coxsackie virus, poliovirus (unspecified), measles virus and Semliki-Forest virus was demonstrated in these studies8, 9. Some of the observed antimicrobial activity has been attributed to the presence of diterpenes10, .

  Medicinal Info From: Scott, G. and Springfield, E.P. (2004). Pharmaceutical monographs for 60 South African plant species used as traditional medicines. South African National Biodversity Institute (SANBI) Plant Information Website at http://www.plantzafrica.com/medmonographs

• Culture: Moderately to marginally frost hardy, they prefer light, well-drained loam, and do not put up with prolonged dry conditions. Plant in full sun and provide plenty of water in summer, with protection from strong winds. They can be pruned hard each year after the flowers are spent. Propagate from cuttings in spring.

• USDA Zone: 10-11

Additional images for this accession:

Accession Data:

• Accession # 198501016
• Source: Unknown
• Accession Date: 12-31-1985
• Bench: 1114 - AFR:Eastern Cape A
• Qty: 2 confirmed on 05-22-2013

Classification:

• Division: Magnoliophyta
• Class: Magnoliopsida
• SubClass: euasterid I
• Order: Lamiales
• SubOrder:
• Family: Lamiaceae
• SubFamily: Nepetoideae
• Tribe: Ocimeae
• SubTribe:

References:

1. Hortus Third, LH Bailey Hortorium, 1976
2. Botanica, Turner & Wasson, 1997, CD-ROM Version

data regenerated on Wed, 22 May 2013 14:16:57 -0400