Description

Common Leucas (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. Leucas aspera is commonly found throughout India and the Philippines as well as the plains of Mauritius and Java. In India and the Philippines, it is a very common weed.

Characteristics:

Common Leucas is an erect and diffusely branched annual herb. Flower are borne in distant spherical whorls, in uppermost leaf axils, 1-4, about 2.5 cm in diameter, about 16-20-flowered. Flowers are 8-10 mm white; upper lip short, densely bearded; lower lip clearly longer than upper and projecting forward. Sepal-cup is 7-9 mm, scarcely elongating in fruit, pale green, scarcely curved, with a prominently oblique mouth. Sepal teeth are 8-10, irregular in size, triangular, 2-3 mm long with short spinulose tips. Bracts narrow linear, about 1/2 length of calyces, long-fringed with hairs at margins. Stems are 15-30 cm with spreading short hairs. Leaves linear to linear lanceshaped, weakly rounded toothed to subentire at margins, wedge-shaped above and below; up to 5 x 1.5 cm with adpressed hairs on upper surface and a denser indumentum of short spreading hairs below especially on nerves; leaf-stalk subabsent to about 5 mm on lower leaves. Common Leucas is found in India, Himalayas, and broadly in Subtropical Asia.

Medicinal uses:

Common Leucas is reported to have antifungal, prostaglandin inhibitory, antioxidant, antimicrobial, antinociceptive and cytotoxic activities. Common Leucas is used in the traditional medicine of the Philippines to treat snake bites. It is also an antipyretic, it is a herb that has the ability to help reduce fevers. A popular Pot Herb believed to help develop resistance to fight diseases.