Dracocephalum heterophyllum

Family: Lamiaceae

What it is like

A herb. It keeps growing from year to year and has an aroma. It has slender woody rhizomes or underground stems. The stems can lie along the ground or be erect. The leaves are oblong and 25 mm long by 15 mm wide. The flowers are in a dense group 4-6 cm long. The fruit are narrow nutlets 3.5 mm long by 1.5 mm wide.

There are about 45 Dracocephalum species.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. In Pakistan it grows in the high mountains to the limit of vegetation. In north China it grows in dry rocky places between 1,100-5,000 m above sea level. In Sichuan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Afghanistan, Asia, Central Asia, China, Himalayas, India, Iran, Middle East, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, Tibet

How it is used for food

The roots are used as a vegetable.

Edible parts

Root

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Shanku, Zanda

Synonyms

Dracocephalum pamiricum Briquet;