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Leonurus japonicus

Houtt. (1778)

This name is accepted

Kingdom: Viridiplantae Phylum: Magnoliophyta Class/Clade: Eudicot-Asterids Order: Lamiales Family: Lamiaceae Genus: Leonurus

lion's tail, motherwort

Description

Key Characters:

Growth Form: Annual or short-lived perennial herbs.

Stems: Stems 4–angled and furrowed, 5–15 dm long, puberulent to glabrate.

Roots:

Leaves: Leaves simple. Opposite. Blades variable, lower ones broadly ovate to deltate in outline, 5–11 cm long, 4–6.5 cm wide, deeply palmately lobed, upper leaves gradually reduced in size and with fewer and smaller lobes, those of the inflorescence linear, unlobed. Surfaces puberulent. Petioles 2–4 cm long. Stipules absent.

Flowers: Flowers 6 to numerous, sessile, in dense verticillasters, bracteoles linear, up to ca. 7 mm long, spinose. Calyx actinomorphic, turbinate, 4–5 mm long, enlarging to 6–7 mm long in fruit, glabrous to sparsely puberulent, the teeth subulate, splitting longitudinally usaully persistent or sometimes only ventral 1/2 persistent. Corolla zygomorphic, bilabiate, white, pink, or reddish, 10–15 mm long, puberulent, upper lobe obovate, pubescent on outer side; nectary disk symmetrical. Stamens 4, in 2 pairs, ascending the upper corolla lip, lower pair slightly longer; anthers sacs coherent; anthers dithecal, opening by longitudinal slits. Ovary superior, 2-carpellate, placentation basal-axile; ovules 1 per ovary lobe; style 1, cleft, the branches equal; stigmas 2.

Fruit: Nutlets 4; 1-seeded; brown; ellipsoid; ca. 2 mm long. Seeds with endosperm absent or scanty and oily.

Ploidy: 2n = 20

Habitat: Naturalized in relatively dry areas; especially pastures.

Elevation Range: 40–600 m.

Historical Distribution

Images

Uses and Culture

USES

  • Yes

Natural History

Statewide Status

Naturalized

Island Status

Kaua'i Naturalized
O'ahu Naturalized
Molokai Naturalized
Maui Naturalized
Hawai'i Naturalized

Dispersal Agents


Pollinators

Bibliography

Name Published In: Nat. Hist. 2(9): 366 (1778)

Other References

Wagner et al. 1990:803 (K, O, M, H [as L. sibiricus]); Harley & Paton 2001:244/Staples et al. 2003:14 (L. sibiricus misapplied = L. japonicus); Wysong et al. 2007:5 (Mo); Hosaka 2308 BISH (H†, 1938); Tim Flynn pers. comm. 2025/Flynn 1012 PTBG (K† 1985)

Occurrences

SNo. Scientific Name Locality Habitat Basis of Record Recorded By Record Number Island Source Date
1 Leonurus japonicus haleiwa PRESERVED_SPECIMEN c. n. forbes 2110.o. Oahu US 3/5/1915
2 Leonurus japonicus pauwela abandoned pineapple field PRESERVED_SPECIMEN herbst, d.r. collector number: 805 Maui BISH 12/20/1967
3 Leonurus japonicus Wainee Gulch, West PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Forbes, C. N. 75.M Maui US 5/10/2020
4 Leonurus japonicus wainee gulch, west PRESERVED_SPECIMEN forbes, c.n. collector number: 75.m Maui BISH 5/1/1910
5 Leonurus japonicus upper makakilo, adjacent to palehua heights subdivision, along dirt road at intersection of makakilo drive and pueonani st. Open dirt path lined on both sides by Panicum maximum grassland. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN imada, c.t. puttock, c.; james, s.a.; crago, l. collector number: 2004-36 Oahu BISH 3/30/2004
6 Leonurus japonicus makaha valley PRESERVED_SPECIMEN bryan jr., e.h. collector number: 709 Oahu BISH 4/13/1930
7 Leonurus japonicus Haleiwa PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Forbes, C.N. Collector Number: 2110.O Oahu BISH 3/5/1915
8 Leonurus japonicus iolani school PRESERVED_SPECIMEN brodie, h.h. Oahu BISH 4/15/1930
9 Leonurus japonicus Upper Makakilo, adjacent to Palehua Heights subdivision, along dirt road at intersection of Makakilo Drive and Pueonani St. Open dirt path lined on both sides by Panicum maximum grassland. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Imada, C.T. 2004-36 Oahu BISH 3/30/2004
10 Leonurus japonicus koloa park, farmer's market PRESERVED_SPECIMEN hume, l. collector number: 385 Oahu BISH 5/8/1989
11 Leonurus japonicus Honolulu, 2561 Malama Way weed in garden PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Godfrey, L. s.n. Oahu BISH 12/3/1929
12 Leonurus japonicus waimea PRESERVED_SPECIMEN meebold, a. Hawaii BISH 5/1/1932
13 Leonurus japonicus makaha valley scrubby trailside PRESERVED_SPECIMEN hasegawa, m. Oahu BISH 4/3/1932
14 Leonurus japonicus Kalaupapa; Waihanau, dump PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Wysong, M.L. 754 Molokai BISH 4/7/2005
15 Leonurus japonicus honolulu PRESERVED_SPECIMEN faurie, a. collector number: 891 Oahu BISH 4/1/1909
16 Leonurus japonicus Honolulu PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Faurie, A. Collector Number: 891 Oahu BISH 4/1/1909
17 Leonurus japonicus Lawai Valley. P.T.B.G. Big Valley edge of fallow cane field PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Flynn, T. 1012 Kauai BISH 3/7/1985
18 Leonurus japonicus Kalaupapa. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Arakaki, D. 1 Molokai BISH 5/6/2009
19 Leonurus japonicus Lawai Valley. P.T.B.G PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Herbst, D.R. 2010 Kauai BISH 7/20/1971
20 Leonurus japonicus lawai valley. p.t.b.g PRESERVED_SPECIMEN herbst, d.r. collector number: 2010 Kauai BISH 7/20/1971
21 Leonurus japonicus East Maui, Makawao District, Papaanui PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Oppenheimer, H.L. H50132 Maui BISH 5/24/2001
22 Leonurus japonicus Kohala, Puu Hue Ranch pasture PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Ewart III, G.R. 194 Hawaii BISH 5/16/1932
23 Leonurus japonicus Pauwela abandoned pineapple field PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Herbst, D.R. 805 Maui BISH 12/20/1967
24 Leonurus japonicus Makawao, Ulupalakua pasture PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Hosaka, E.Y. 1791 Maui BISH 4/8/1937
25 Leonurus japonicus east maui, makawao district, papaanui PRESERVED_SPECIMEN oppenheimer, h.l. collector number: h50132 Maui BISH 5/24/2001
26 Leonurus japonicus Iolani School PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Brodie, H.H. s.n. Oahu BISH 4/15/1930
27 Leonurus japonicus Haleiwa between road and beach PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Degener, O. Collector Number: 9516 Oahu BISH 3/25/1933
28 Leonurus japonicus Koloa Park, farmer's market PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Hume, L. 385 Kauai BISH 5/8/1989
29 Leonurus japonicus Honolulu PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Faurie, A. 891 Oahu BISH 4/1/1909
30 Leonurus japonicus Makaha Valley PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Bryan Jr., E.H. 709 Oahu BISH 4/13/1930
31 Leonurus japonicus PRESERVED_SPECIMEN munro, g.c. Maui BISH 5/2/1914
32 Leonurus japonicus Haleiwa between road and beach PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Degener, O. 9516 Oahu BISH 3/25/1933
33 Leonurus japonicus PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Munro, G.C. s.n. Maui BISH 5/2/1914
34 Leonurus japonicus Wainee Gulch, West PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Forbes, C.N. 75.M Maui BISH 5/1/1910
35 Leonurus japonicus makawao, east grove of Pisonia PRESERVED_SPECIMEN forbes, c.n. Kauai BISH 7/1/1910
36 Leonurus japonicus makawao, ulupalakua pasture PRESERVED_SPECIMEN hosaka, e.y. collector number: 1791 Maui BISH 4/8/1937
37 Leonurus japonicus Haleiwa PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Forbes, C.N. 2110.O Oahu BISH 3/5/1915
38 Leonurus japonicus n. kohala, ranch PRESERVED_SPECIMEN hosaka, e.y. collector number: 2308 Hawaii BISH 6/11/1938
39 Leonurus japonicus Haleiwa Park PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Degener, O. 9515 Oahu BISH 3/13/1933
40 Leonurus japonicus East Maui, Makawao District, Papaanui PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Oppenheimer, H.L. Collector Number: H50132 Maui BISH 5/24/2001
41 Leonurus japonicus konaie, s slope of haleakala PRESERVED_SPECIMEN forbes, c.n. collector number: 1790.m Maui BISH 3/1/1920
42 Leonurus japonicus Konaie, S slope of Haleakala PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Forbes, C.N. 1790.M Maui BISH 3/1/1920
43 Leonurus japonicus kohala, puu hue ranch pasture PRESERVED_SPECIMEN ewart iii, g.r. collector number: 194 Hawaii BISH 5/16/1932
44 Leonurus japonicus honolulu, 2561 malama way PRESERVED_SPECIMEN godfrey, l. Oahu BISH 12/3/1929
45 Leonurus japonicus Manoa Valley, Honolulu PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Fosberg, F.R. 14263 Oahu BISH 8/1/1937
46 Leonurus japonicus kalaupapa; waihanau, dump PRESERVED_SPECIMEN wysong, m.l. collector number: 754 Molokai BISH 4/7/2005
47 Leonurus japonicus manoa valley, honolulu PRESERVED_SPECIMEN fosberg, f.r. collector number: 14263 Oahu BISH 8/1/1937
48 Leonurus japonicus lawai valley. p.t.b.g. big valley edge of fallow cane field PRESERVED_SPECIMEN flynn, t. collector number: 1012 Kauai BISH 3/7/1985
49 Leonurus japonicus haleiwa between road and beach PRESERVED_SPECIMEN degener, o. collector number: 9516 Oahu BISH 3/25/1933
50 Leonurus japonicus N. Kohala, Ranch PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Hosaka, E.Y. 2308 Hawaii BISH 6/11/1938
51 Leonurus japonicus Makaha Valley scrubby trailside PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Hasegawa, M. s.n. Oahu BISH 4/3/1932
52 Leonurus japonicus haleiwa park PRESERVED_SPECIMEN degener, o. collector number: 9515 Oahu BISH 3/13/1933
53 Leonurus japonicus Makawao, East PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Forbes, C.N. s.n. Maui BISH 7/1/1910
54 Leonurus japonicus iolani school PRESERVED_SPECIMEN h. brodie 2b Oahu US 4/15/1930
55 Leonurus japonicus Lawai Valley. Occasional throughout PTBG. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Derral Herbst 2010 Kauai PTBG 7/20/1971
56 Leonurus japonicus Lawai Valley. Pacific Tropical Botanical Garden, Big Valley. Along edge of fallow cane field. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Tim Flynn 1013 Kauai PTBG 3/7/1985
57 Leonurus japonicus Lawai Valley. Pacific Tropical Botanical Garden, Big Valley. Along edge of fallow cane field. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Tim Flynn 1012 Kauai PTBG 3/7/1985
58 Leonurus japonicus Papaanui. Formerly under cultivation, now overrun with weeds. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Hank Oppenheimer H50132 Maui PTBG 5/24/2001
59 Leonurus japonicus Konaie, S slope of Haleakala PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Forbes, C. N. 1790.M Maui US 3/1/2020
60 Leonurus japonicus Haleiwa PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Forbes, C. N. 2110.O. Oahu US 3/5/2015
61 Leonurus japonicus wainee gulch, west PRESERVED_SPECIMEN c. n. forbes 75.m Maui US
62 Leonurus japonicus konaie, s slope of haleakala PRESERVED_SPECIMEN c. n. forbes 1790.m Maui US 3/1/1920
63 Leonurus japonicus Iolani School PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Brodie, H. H. 2b Oahu US 4/15/1930
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