Elsholtzia blanda

Family: Lamiaceae

What it is like

A slender herb. It grows 30-150 cm high. The stems are square and branched. They are hairy. The leaves are opposite and oval. They have teeth along the edge. They are smooth on the upper surface and hairy underneath. The leaves are 3-8 cm long and 1.5-2 cm wide. The flower panicle can be at the ends of branches or in the axils of leaves. They are 6-12 cm long. The flowers are very small and white. The fruit are small nuts 0.7 mm long.

There are about 40 Elsholtzia species. It is used in medicine.

Where it is found

A tropical and subtropical plant. In Nepal it grows from 300-2500 m altitude. It grows in moist, open places. In Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Bhutan, China, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, Northeastern India, SE Asia, Sikkim, Thailand, Vietnam

How it is used for food

The young shoots and leaves are served cooked as a vegetable. They are also used as a tea substitute. The seeds are pickled. The flowers are used in chutney.

Plants are grown in gardens and leaves sold in local markets.

Edible parts

Leaves, leaves - tea, flowers, spice

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seed.

In Nagaland leaves are harvested June to November.

Its other names

Local names

Ban silam, Ban tulsi, Bantuluki, Elsholtzia, Lajing, Lomba, Lu gu me, Phak luean, Pheiri, Si fang hao, Yaung-bway, Ya you man nuai, Yon-pa-bo

Synonyms

Aphanochilus blandus Benth.; Perilla elata D.Don;