Egyptian Herb
Lycopus europeus

Family: Lamiaceae

What it is like

A herb that keeps growing from year to year. The rhizomes produce long stolons or runners which are enlarged at the tip. They have scale like leaves. The stems are erect and 15-80 cm high. The leaf blade is oblong to sword shaped and 3-9 cm long by 1-4 cm wide. The flower heads are round and 8-10 mm across.

There are about 10 Lycopus species.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. It does best in rich moist soils. It prefers a protected, shady position. In China it grows by the edges of fields and streams between 700-1000 m altitude in N China. It suits plant hardiness zone 5.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Australia, Britain, Canada, Central Asia, China, Europe (country/location of origin), India, Iraq, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Luxembourg, Manchuria, Middle East, North America, Pakistan, Russia, Slovenia, Spain, Tajikistan, Tasmania, Turkey, Türkiye, Turkmenistan, USA, Uzbekistan

How it is used for food

The tubers are eaten.

Edible parts

Root, tuber

How it is grown

Plants can be grown by seed or cuttings.

Its other names

Local names

Gandamgundu, Gypsywort, Jalnim, Ou di sun, Navadni regelj, Water Horehound

Synonyms

Lycopus asper Greene; Lycopus lucidus Turcz. var. americanus Gray;