Bushy matgrass Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Bushy matgrass

Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Asterids
Order:	Lamiales
Family:	Verbenaceae
Genus:	Lippia
Species:	L. alba
Binomial name
*Lippia alba* (Mill.) N.E.Br. ex Britton & P.Wilson
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Synonyms
List Camara alba (Mill.) Kuntze Lantana alba Mill. Lantana cuneatifolia Klotzsch ex Walp. Lantana geminata (Kunth) Spreng. Lantana lippioides Hook. & Arn. nom. illeg. Lantana malabarica Hayek Lantana mollissima Desf. Lantana odorata (Pers.) Weigelt ex Cham. nom. illeg. Lippia asperifolia Poepp. ex Cham. Lippia carterae (Moldenke) G.L.Nesom Lippia citrata Willd. ex Cham. Lippia crenata Sessé & Moc. Lippia geminata Kunth Lippia globiflora (L'Hér.) Kuntze Lippia havanensis Turcz. Lippia lantanifolia F.Muell. Lippia lantanoides (Lam.) Herter nom. illeg. Lippia lantanoides J.M.Coult. nom. illeg. Lippia obovata Sessé & Moc. Lippia panamensis Turcz. Lippia unica Ramakr. Verbena globiflora L'Hér. Verbena globulifera Spreng. Verbena lantanoides (Lam.) Willd. ex Spreng. Zappania geminata (Kunth) Gibert Zappania globiflora (L'Hér.) Juss. Zappania globiflora (L'Hér.) Willd. Zappania lantanoides Lam. Zappania odorata Pers.

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Lippia alba is a cool flowering plant from the verbena family, called Verbenaceae. It grows naturally in places like southern Texas in the United States, Mexico, the Caribbean, Central America, and South America. You might also find it in Australia and India. It was probably brought to these places by people.

Some common names for this plant are bushy matgrass, bushy lippia, hierba negra, and pitiona. It's a multi-branched shrub that can grow up to about 1.5 meters (5 feet) tall. Its leaves are usually 1 to 3 centimeters (0.4 to 1.2 inches) long. They are about 0.9 to 2 centimeters (0.8 inches) wide. The leaves grow opposite each other or in groups of three. The flowers have white, pink, or light blue-purple petals. They grow on spikes that are about 2 centimeters (0.8 inches) long.

What is Bushy Lippia Used For?
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What is Bushy Lippia Used For?

Bushy lippia is often grown as an ornamental plant. People like it for its nice-smelling leaves and pretty flowers.

Essential Oils from the Plant

The plant contains essential oils. These oils give the plant its unique smell. The exact mix of oils can be different for each plant. Some common oils found in bushy lippia include piperitone, geranial, neral, caryophyllene, camphor, and eucalyptol. Other oils like limonene, carvone, germacrene, and linalool can also be present.

Using Bushy Lippia in Food

The leaves of Lippia alba are used to add flavor to foods. For example, they are used in mole sauces. These special sauces come from Oaxaca, Mexico.

Medicinal Uses

People also use this plant in herbal medicine. It is thought to have properties that can help the body. For example, it might help with relaxation. It is also used to help with mood and to ease discomfort.