Hyptis

Scientific name

Hyptis Jacq.

Common names

bushmint, hyptis

Family

Lamiaceae

Similar genera

Aciotis, Acmella, Bidens, Hemigraphis

Native distribution

warm and tropical regions of America, a few representatives extending into the Old World

Species cultivated

rarely available commercially

Hyptis lorentziana O.Hoffm.

Adventive distribution

warm and tropical regions of the Old World

Weed status

not weedy

Habit

amphibious amphibious:
(adj) of a plant able to live on land or in water
to seasonally submergedsubmerged:
(adj) (syn. submersed) under water; submerged below the water surface
attached stem plant

Brief description

Stem erect or ascending, angularangular:
(adj) having projecting longitudinal angles; undulate, but sharply angled rather than gently rounded
, pubescentpubescent:
(adj) (1) covered with short, soft hairs; (2) bearing hairs
. Leaves oppositeopposite:
(adj) (of leaves) two leaves per node; in pairs on opposite sides of an axis
, decussatedecussate:
(adj) arranged along stem in pairs, with each pair at right angles to the pairs above and below
; typically petiolatepetiolate:
(adj) relating to or in the form of a petiole; bearing petioles
; leaf bladeblade:
(n) (syn. lamina) the flat, expanded part of a leaf, frond, or petal (excluding, e.g., the petiole)
ovate to lanceolatelanceolate:
(adj) lance-shaped; widest point below the middle, tapering to the apex
, or rarely rhomboid, both surfaces pubescentpubescent:
(adj) (1) covered with short, soft hairs; (2) bearing hairs
or mature leaves sub-glabrous, often glandular; base attenuateattenuate:
(adj) narrowing gradually to a point
to truncatetruncate:
(adj) terminating abruptly, as if cut straight across
; apexapex:
(n) the point farthest from the point of attachment; the tip (often pointed)
acuteacute:
(adj) tapering to a sharp, pointed apex with more or less straight sides; broader than acuminate; forming an angle of less than 90 degrees
; margins serrateserrate:
(adj) (of a leaf margin) bearing sharp teeth pointing forward or to the apex
. Inflorescenceinflorescence:
(n) the arrangement of flowers on the floral axis
typically axillaryaxillary:
(adj) in, of, or produced from an axil
, head-like, pedunculatepedunculate:
(adj) borne on or possessing a peduncle
; bracts inconspicuous to leaf-like, may be ciliateciliate:
(adj) with a marginal fringe of stiff hairs
(H. atrorubens Poit., H. brevipes Poit.); bracteoles ovateovate:
(adj) egg-shaped in outline; generally with the broad end at or near the base
or linear, pubescentpubescent:
(adj) (1) covered with short, soft hairs; (2) bearing hairs
; flowers small, typically sessilesessile:
(adj) attached directly, without a stalk
, often with tufts of hair at the bases. Calyxcalyx:
(n) the outer whorl of the perianth; all the sepals of a flower
tubular or campanulatecampanulate:
(adj) bell-shaped
, 5-lobed, lobes spinulose to aristatearistate:
(adj) (of a leaf) terminating in a stiff, bristle-like awn or tip
, often with sinuses, pubescentpubescent:
(adj) (1) covered with short, soft hairs; (2) bearing hairs
; corollacorolla:
(n) the inner whorl(s) of the perianth; all the petals of a flower
tubular, 2-lipped, upper lip 2-lobed, lower 3-lobed, lowest lobe saccatesaccate:
(adj) in the shape of a bag or pouch
, pubescentpubescent:
(adj) (1) covered with short, soft hairs; (2) bearing hairs
, white to purple; stamens 4, weakly exsertedexserted:
(adj) projecting beyond, sticking out or protruding
, filaments ± pubescentpubescent:
(adj) (1) covered with short, soft hairs; (2) bearing hairs
.

Natural habitat

tropical and subtropical areas; humid to damp places, wetlands, seasonally inundated areas, sometimes in disturbed sites

Additional comments

A genus comprising nearly 300 species, of which most are terrestrialterrestrial:
(adj) growing on land as opposed to living in water
and only some are wetland species; there are no true aquatics. Hyptis lorentziana is seasonally submergedsubmerged:
(adj) (syn. submersed) under water; submerged below the water surface
and characterized by sub-glabrous leaves with many sessilesessile:
(adj) attached directly, without a stalk
glands on the abaxialabaxial:
(adj) the side facing away from the axis, as in the underside of a leaf
surface and conspicuous bracteoles. It is known erroneously in the aquarium trade as Hemigraphis traian.