Stellenbosch University Botanical Garden, South Africa

Common name: Duiwelstabak, Wildedagga, Lion's ear, Lion's-tail, Wild dagga, Imvovo, umFincafincane, umUnyane, I-munyamunyane

Family: Lamiaceae (Mint)

Distribution: Southern Africa

Habitat: Forest margins or rough grasslands

National red list: Least Concern

Life form: Shrub / sub-shrub

Comments: This plant is a member of the same family as mint, lavender and rosemary and, like its relatives, it has very aromatic leaves. Leonotis leonoris is also popular in South African gardens since it has a very long flowering period and attracts nectarivorous birds like sunbirds. Another notable aspect of this plant is its medicinal properties: an extract of the plant material is used both topically and orally to treat several ailments, including skin rashes and boils, muscle cramps, headaches, constipation and snake bites. The dried leaves and flowers are also smoked to induce a similar, although less potent, psychoactive effect to cannabis - hence the common name "wild dagga".