Cock's comb perilla
Perilla frutescens var. crispa

Family: Lamiaceae

What it is like

An annual herb. It has an aroma. It grows 30-100 cm high. The young growth is softly hairy. The leaves are crinkled and purple-green. The stems are 3-4 sided. The leaves are broadly oval and 4-12 cm long by 3-10 cm wide. There are teeth on the lower half of the leaf. The flowers are pink or white. They are in loose groups in the axils of leaves or at the ends of branches.

The oil from the seeds has anticancer properties.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It is native to central and southern China.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Australia, China, Europe, France, India, Indochina, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, North America, SE Asia, Singapore, Vietnam

How it is used for food

Edible parts

Leaves - flavouring, leaves - tea, seeds - oil

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Hui hui su, Shiso

Synonyms

Dentidia nankkinensis Lour.; Dentidia purpurascens Pers.; Dentidia purpurea Poir.; Ocimum acutum Thunb.; Ocimum crispum Thunberg; Perilla acuta (Thunb.) Nakai; Perilla arguta Benth.; Perilla crispa (Thunb.) Tanaka; Perilla frutescens var. acuta (Thunb.) Kudo; Perilla frutescens Britton var. crispa (Thunberg) Hanfel-Mazzatti; Perilla frutescens var. nankinensis (Lour.) Britton; Perilla nankinensis (Loureiro) Decaisne;