Lippia alba is a species of flowering plant in the verbena family, Verbenaceae, that is native to southern Texas in the United States,[1] Mexico, the Caribbean, Central America, and South America.
In Ethiopia the plant is also known as Coseret (Amharic: ኮሰረት) and classified under herbal group. They use the plant leaf for preparing butter.
The species is also present in Australia and India, where it is probably a human introduction.[2] Common names include bushy matgrass, bushy lippia, hierba negra, juanilama, pamporegano, poleo and pitiona.[3] It is a multi-branched shrub, reaching a height of 1.5m (04.9feet). Leaves measure 1to in length and 0.9to in width and are opposite or in threes. Flowers with white, pink, or light blue-purple corollas form on spikes 2cm (01inches) long.[4]
Bushy lippia is widely cultivated as an ornamental for its aromatic foliage and beautiful flowers.[1] The essential oil composition is unique to each plant, but may include piperitone, geranial, neral, caryophyllene, camphor, eucalyptol, limonene, carvone, germacrene, α-guaiene, β-ocimene, linalool, or myrcene.[4] The leaves are used for flavoring foods,[5] such as mole sauces from Oaxaca, Mexico.[6] The plant is used medicinally for its somatic, sedative, antidepressant, and analgesic properties.[7]