Accession Data

Tetradenia riparia

Common Name: Nutmeg Bush, Mochasma

Family: Lamiaceae

Country of Origin: S. Trop. & S. Africa

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, .3

Accession Data

USDA Zone: 10-11

Accession #: 198501016

Accession Date: 1985-12-31 00:00:00

Bloom Status: 🪴 Not Flowering

Location: 1114

Quantity: 3

Source: Unknown

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.

Classification

Division: Magnoliophyta

Class: Magnoliopsida

Subclass: euasterid I

Order: Lamiales

Family: Lamiaceae

SubFamily: Nepetoideae

Tribe: Ocimeae

SubTribe: Plectranthinae

Flowering Data:

This accession has been observed in bloom on:
Year Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
2025
2024
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008

References

  1. Hortus Third, LH Bailey Hortorium, 1976
  2. Botanica, Turner & Wasson, 1997, CD-ROM Version
  3. 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
  4. The Plant List (2013). Version 1.1. Accessed 20 May 2015.
  5. WCSP (2015). World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. Facilitated by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Accessed 20 May 2015

Images

Tetradenia riparia