Lallemantia royleana

Lallemantia royleana is a species of flowering plant in the mint family, Lamiaceae. In Iran, it is known as balangu shirazi and it is used as a folk medicine treatment for fever and coughs. Its seeds are a good source of polysaccharides, fiber, oil, and protein.

Vernacular

Takht Malingia, Tukhm Malanga or Tukhm Longa  تخم بالنگو

Family

Lamiaceae

Description

Annual, unbranched, or branched from the base. Stems erect, quadrangular, 5-30 cm, with a dense indumentum of short eglandular retrorse hairs, leafy.
Leaves simple, 15-20 x 7-15 mm, oblong-obovate, crenate, cuneate, below with short eglandular hairs and scattered sessile oil globules; petiole up to 15 (-20) mm.
Inflorescence starting from near base of stem; verticillasters in axils of leaves, numerous, 6-8 flowered, distant or contiguous; bracts several, linear-oblong as long as or longer than calyx, sessile or shortly petiolate, cuneate, with marginal awns 2-4 mm long.
Calyx tubular, 6-7 mm, prominently veined or ribbed, with short eglandular spreading hairs and a few sessile oil globules; upper lip with 3 ovate obtuse lobes; lower lip with 2 narrower lobes; all shortly acuminate; teeth clearly convergent in fruit and closing the mouth.
Corolla pale lilac, blue to whitish pink, c. 7-8 mm, slightly longer than calyx; upper lip c. 1.5 mm long, dearly shorter than the lower lip. Nutlets 2.5 x 1 mm, dark brown, markedly triquetrous, with a small attachment scar, clearly mucilaginous on wetting.
Fl. Per.: March-June.
Differing from all other Pakistan annual Labiates in the combined characters of the markedly flattened pedicels, the awns on the margins of the bracts and the closed fruiting calyces.

Distribution

Afghanistan, China, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, South West Asia, and Europe.

Uses

Sometimes cultivated for its mucilaginous seeds which are used medicinally. Royleana seeds are applied topically for the treatment of abscesses, boils, and inflammations. They are given internally as a soothing drink in urinary troubles. Essential oil of plant has antibacterial, antifungal, antiemetic, and diuretic effects.
Use for the treatment of fever and coughs. it is also used for stomach problems.
Courtesy:
Flora of Balochistan – Pakistan
Flora of Pakistan
Wikipedia