Common Name:

General Information

Lavandula pubescens is an evergreen perennial pl;ant with stems that become woody near the base. The erect stems branch frequently and are around 30 - 60cm tall, occasionally reaching 100cm[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a flavouring in tea, for use as a medicine and for various other purposes. It has been suggested to have commercial possibilities as an antioxidant and antifungal in foods, especially oils.
Lavandula pubescens is common through most of its range. The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2004)[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Southeastern Mediterranean to the Arabian Peninsula, also in Iran

Habitat

Open rocky and stony habitats and wadi beds in arid and desert areas, and amongst volcanic rocks, lava flows and on granite and sandstone; at elevations from 300 metres below sea level near the DeadSea, to 2,700 metres above sea level[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Least Concern
Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Shrub
Height	0.50 m
Pollinators	Bees, Insects
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Lavandula pubescens is a plant of desert or dry shrubland climates in the subtropical zone of Arabia and northeast Africa. It is not very tolerant of frosts.
Requires a sunny position in a well-drained soil. Established plants are very drought tolerant[].
A highly aromatic plant[]. An acrid and unpleasant smell

Edible Uses

The leaves are used as a flavouring in tea, imparting a mint-like flavour[].
The plant is used locally as a flavouring in a variety of food products and drinks such as tea and coffee. It imparts a nice flavour whilst it also prolongs the shelf-life of the food due to its rich content of antioxidant and antibacterial compounds[].
Trials have shown that crude extracts of the plant have a remarkable potential as a good source of natural antioxidants in food systems, even at high processing temperatures[]..

Medicinal

An infusion of the plant is used to treat coughs[].

In Yemen the plant is used in folk medicine as a carminative, insect repellent and antiseptic[].

The essential oil has shown notable antibacterial and antifungal activity[].

Other Uses

An essential oil obtained from the flowering stems is composed largely of carvacrol, caryophyllene oxide, beta-bisabolene, p-cymen-8-ol, beta-caryophyllene, carvacrol methyl ether and terpinolene. It has shown notable antibacterial and antifungal activity[].

The plant is used as a perfume[].
The plant is used as an insect repellent

Propagation

Seed -