Agastache mexicana

Agastache mexicana is a species of flowering plant in the mint family known by the common name Mexican giant hyssop. It is native to southern North America and can grow up to 100 cm tall. The leaves are lanceolate or oval-lanceolate. The plant is perennial and self-fertile. Its young lemon scented leaves are used in herbal teas and the leaves are also often used in flavoring foods.

Agastache mexicana
Agastache mexicana in Prague Botanical garden
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Lamiales
Family: Lamiaceae
Genus: Agastache
Species:
A. mexicana
Binomial name
Agastache mexicana
(Kunth) Lint & Epling

Climate

This plant can thrive in arid or semi-arid regions, but it is necessary for the seed to pass a cold and humid season which break dormancy in order to produce germination.

Environment
Detail of flower

For a proper development it requires alkaline or neutral, aerated and light soil, otherwise the excessive humidity, compactness and damping will putrify the root system.

This species requires direct sunlight or partial shade, but doesn't do well in interior corners or under taller plants; these situations will make the plant tend to yellowing and loss of leaves, absence of flowering and even death.

Sunny days and cooler nights will produce more intense aroma in the leaves. It can produce flowers when it reaches 1 month old, but requires at least 3 days of natural or artificial watering for two weeks.

Uses

Infusion of Agastache mexicana areal parts has been used for jaundice therapy in the Mexican ethnomedicine.[1]

There is no evidence that the plant repels mosquitos despite the common name "mosquito plant".[2]

References
  1. Tewari, D; Mocan, A; Parvanov, ED; Sah, AN; Nabavi, SM; Huminiecki, L; Ma, ZF; Lee, YY; Horbańczuk, JO; Atanasov, AG (2017). "Ethnopharmacological Approaches for Therapy of Jaundice: Part I." Frontiers in Pharmacology. 8: 518. doi:10.3389/fphar.2017.00518. PMC 5559545. PMID 28860989.
  2. Tucker, Arthur; Debaggio, Thomas. The Encyclopedia of Herbs. London: Timber Press.
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