Hyptis suaveolens (L.) Poit (Lamiaceae)

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Masís, A., Espinoza, R.,Chavarria, F., Guadamuz, A. and Perez, D.1998. Hyptis suaveolens (Lamiaceae) Species Page, 20 January 1998. Species Home Pages, Area de Conservación Guanacaste, Costa Rica. http://www.acguanacaste.ac.cr

I. Identification:

Woody herb up to 2 m tall.

Flower:

Lateral	Flower visitor

Front

The inflorescence is capituliform and terminal. The flowers are purple amd perfect (both male and female reproductive structures in the same flower).

Fruit:

The inmature fruits are green, when mature are light brown; 0.5-0.6 cm long. The seeds are black and are wind disspersed; 1-2 seeds per fruit.

Fruits and inmature fruits
Semi-mature seeds	Mature dry fruit
Inflorescence	Mature seed

Leaves:

Commonly known as Chan, it has simple and opposite leaves that are cordate in shape and have undulate margins. About 5 cm long. The upper surface is dark green and the under surface is light green. Both surfaces are glabrous and rugous. The petiole is about 1 cm long.

Leaf arrangement
Under surface	Detail of the under surface
Upper surface	Detail of the upper surface

Bark and wood:

Simlar species:

Hyptis brachiata, has roundish sessile leaves, flowers in roundish paired heads at each node (Janzen & Liesner 1980).

Hyptis capitata, inflorescence in large balls at ends of stamens, largew leaves (Janzen & Liesner 1980).

Hyptis conferta Pohl ex Benth. Only one collection from Rincón de la Vieja (Pool 1997).

Hyptis mociniana, highly expanded inflorescens at ends of paired lateral branches (Janzen & Liesner 1980).

Hyptis mutabilis, highly expanded inflorescens at ends of leafy branches (Janzen & Liesner 1980).

Hyptis pectinata, flowers yellowish white, lots of upright catkin-like inflorescences at end of stalk. (Janzen & Liesner 1980).

Hyptis verticillata, most expanded inflorescences of all (Janzen & Liesner 1980).

Verification:

II.Geographic distribution:

Internacional:

In Costa Rica:

Very common in Guanacaste and norh Puntarenas (Pool 1997).

In the Area de Conservación Guanacaste:

It can be very abundant in open areas. Up to 1200 m (Pool 1997).

Macro-habitat maps of the ACG

III. Natural history:

A bebearage is made by soaking the seeds in water and its said to have soothing properties for upset stomachs.

IV. How to find:

See distribution in the Area de Conservación Guanacaste.

Acknowledgments:

This project was carried out by the Area de Conservación Guanacaste/CR, with help from INBio/CR, ICBG from the Foggarty center, NIH/USA and NSF/USA. We particularly thank Nelson Zamora for the information he provided about this species.

Literature cited:

Janzen. D. H. and Liesner. R. 1980. Annotated Check-List of plants of lowland Guanacaste province, Costa Rica, exclusive of grasses and non-vascular cryptograms. Brenesia 18: 1590.

Pool. A. 1997. Manual de Flora de Costa Rica. En preparación.