UCONN UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT

Ecology & Evolutionary Biology

Plant Biodiversity Conservatory and Research Core

  • Collections
  • Teaching
  • Research
  • Outreach
  • Visiting
  • Staff
  • IPM Info
  • Support the Greenhouse

Accession Data:

Tetradenia riparia (Hochst.) Codd

  • Common Name: Nutmeg Bush, Mochasma
  • Family: Lamiaceae Lindl.

  • 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
  • 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.
  • USDA Zone: 10-11

Accession Data:

  • Accession # 198501016
  • Source: Unknown
  • Accession Date: 12-31-1985
  • Bench: 1114 - AFR:East Bench SC
    • Currently: active - healthy
    • Qty: 3 confirmed on 02-27-2025

Classification:

  • Division: Magnoliophyta
  • Class: Magnoliopsida
  • SubClass: euasterid I
  • Order: Lamiales
  • SubOrder:
  • Family: Lamiaceae
  • SubFamily: Nepetoideae
  • Tribe: Ocimeae
  • SubTribe: Plectranthinae

Flowering Data:

This accession has been observed in bloom on:
YearJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
2025
2024
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008

References (internal):

  • Moth pollination (phalaenophily)
  • EEB 3271 - Systematic Botany
  • EEB Greenhouse Holdings native to: Angola / Malawi / Mozambique / Zimbabwe / Botswana / Namibia / KwaZulu-Natal / Swaziland / Northern Provinces

References (external):

  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

data regenerated on Tue, 25 Mar 2025 13:33:10 -0400 [bcm v4.0]

Images:

No default accession image assigned

Additional images for this accession:

Click on thumbnails to enlarge

Current Accessions in the Lamiaceae

  • Elsholtzia stauntonii

Subfamily Ajugoideae

  • Clerodendrum nutans
  • Clerodendrum speciosissimum
  • Clerodendrum thomsoniae
  • Faradaya splendida
  • Petraeovitex bambusetorum
  • Teucrium chamaedrys
  • Teucrium fruticans

Subfamily Lamioideae
Tribe Pogostemoneae

  • Pogostemon cablin
  • Pogostemon heyneanus
  • Rostrinucula dependens

Subfamily Lamioideae
Tribe Stachydeae

  • Stachys byzantina

Subfamily Nepetoideae
Tribe Mentheae

  • Lycopinae: Lycopus europaeus
  • Menthinae: Thymus kotschyanus
  • Prunellinae: Prunella grandiflora
  • Salviinae: Rosmarinus officinalis
  • Salviinae: Salvia discolor
  • Salviinae: Salvia microphylla
  • Salviinae: Salvia officinalis
  • Salviinae: Salvia pinguifolia

Subfamily Nepetoideae
Tribe Ocimeae

  • Lavandulinae: Lavandula angustifolia
  • Lavandulinae: Lavandula dentata
  • Ociminae: Ocimum tenuiflorum
  • Plectranthinae: Coleus scutellarioides
  • Plectranthinae: Coleus scutellarioides
  • Plectranthinae: Plectranthus amboinicus
  • Plectranthinae: Plectranthus neochilus
  • Plectranthinae: Plectranthus saccatus
  • Plectranthinae: Tetradenia riparia

Subfamily Prostantheroideae
Tribe Westringieae

  • Prostanthera rotundifolia
  • Westringia fruticosa

Subfamily Scutellarioideae

  • Holmskioldia sanguinea
  • Scutellaria alpina
  • Scutellaria argentata
  • Scutellaria javanica
  • Scutellaria purpurascens subsp. verecunda W/C
  • Scutellaria tuberosa W/C

Subfamily Symphorematoideae

  • Congea tomentosa

Subfamily Viticoideae

  • Gmelina philippensis
  • Vitex agnus-castus
W/C = Wild Collected
= indicates flowering in past 14 days
= images available for this accession
= map available for this accession
= accession added within past 90 days
  • © University of Connecticut
  • Disclaimers, Privacy & Copyright