Elsholtzia eriostachya

Family: Lamiaceae

What it is like

A herb. It grows each year from seed. It grows 15-37 cm tall. The stems are red to purple and hairy. The leaves are oval and 1-4 cm long by 1-2 cm wide. There are rounded teeth along the edge. The flower spike is cylinder shaped.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. It grows in cold deserts in north India. In China it grows in hilly grasslands between 3,500-4,100 m above sea level. In Sichuan and Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, China, Himalayas, India, Tibet

How it is used for food

Leaves are eaten raw in chutney and salads. They are dried and used to flavour dishes in winter.

Edible parts

Leaves

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Betso, Bye-rug ser-po, Tsatsa

Synonyms

Aphanochilus eriostachyus Benth.; Elsholtzia eriostachya var. pusilla (Benth.) Hook.f.; Elsholtzia hoffmeisteri Klotzsch; Elsholtzia pusilla Benth.; Platyelasma eriostachyum (Benth.) Kitag.;