Elsholtzia fruticosa

Family: Lamiaceae

What it is like

A shrub. It grows about 2 m high. It has many branches. The stems and branches are yellow or purple brown. The bark peels off. The leaves are almost without stalks. The leaf blades are 5-15 cm long by 1.5-5.5 cm wide. They have teeth along the edge. They are densely yellow and with glands. The flowers are white. They are in long cylindrical spikes. These can be 6-20 cm long. The nutlets are brown and oblong. They are about 1.5 mm long.

Where it is found

It is a subtropical plant. In Nepal the plants grow between 1800-4200 m altitude. They grow in moist areas near streams. In China it grows in grasslands and hills between 1200-3800 m altitude. In Sichuan and Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Bhutan, China, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Myanmar, Nepal, Northeastern India, Pakistan, SE Asia, Sikkim, Tibet

How it is used for food

The powdered seeds are used for flavouring foods. The seed oil is edible.

Edible parts

Seeds, seeds - oil

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seed.

Its other names

Local names

Beng jie de nang, Bhangria, Chhinki, Duss, Garudar, Ji gu chai, Katonuningrit, Potha, Pothi, Rangchari

Synonyms

Perilla fruticosa D. Don; Aphanochilus polystrachya Benth.; Elsholtzia polystachya (Benth.) Benth.; Colebrookia oppositifolia Loddiges;