Plants · La Saladita, Guerrero

Wide Spikenard

Mesosphaerum suaveolens

Spanish: chao

Wide Spikenard (Mesosphaerum suaveolens)
Photographed by yolirolly on iNaturalist · CC-BY-NC

Mesosphaerum suaveolens, synonym Hyptis suaveolens, the pignut or chan, is a branching pseudocereal plant native to tropical regions of Mexico, Central, the West Indies, and South America, as well as being naturalized in tropical parts of Africa, Asia and Australia. It is generally 1–1.5 m (3.3–4.9 ft) tall, occasionally up to 3 m (9.8 ft). Stems are hairy, and square in cross section. Leaves are oppositely arranged, 2–10 cm (0.79–3.94 in) long, with shallowly toothed margins, and emit a strong minty odor...

TaxonomyMagnoliopsida › Lamiales › Lamiaceae
Local records14 research-grade observations within about 50 km of La Saladita (the survey box also takes in Zihuatanejo, Ixtapa and Troncones)
Global records5,630 on iNaturalist
Most recent records2024 – 2026
Months of the 8 most recent records
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Recent local sightings

Interactive card with more photos, sounds and similar species Plants guide iNaturalist Wikipedia

Cite as: “Wide Spikenard (Mesosphaerum suaveolens) at La Saladita”, La Saladita Field Guide, lasaladita.com/species/mesosphaerum-suaveolens/, updated 2026-09-26. Observation counts and months come from iNaturalist research-grade records within about 50 km of 17.8375°N, 101.7606°W (the survey box also takes in Zihuatanejo, Ixtapa and Troncones); summary text from Wikipedia where present.