Hyptis, Mint bush
Hyptis suaveolens

Family: Lamiaceae

What it is like

A herb which keeps growing from year to year. It grows 70 cm high. It can grow as an annual and can be 3 m high. The stems are rounded in the lower sections and 4-angled higher up. They are hollow. They are hairy. The leaves are produced opposite each other. They have teeth around the edge. They have a strong minty smell when crushed. The leaves are 3-10 cm long by 2-7 cm wide. They have a wavy edge and are rough underneath. The flowers are produced in small clusters in the axils of leaves. The flowers are blue. The fruit are papery brown capsules. The fruit consists of 2 nutlets. They are 3-4 mm long and flattened. They are dark brown.

It grows naturally in pastures. There are about 350-400 Hyptis species. Most are tropical or subtropical. It is used in medicine.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in dry open locations. It can grow along streams and near roadsides. It can grow up to 1300 m altitude in Papua New Guinea. It grows in seasonally dry climates. In China it grows in open waste places in southern China. In Costa Rica it grows below 1,200 m altitude.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Aruba, Asia, Australia, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Benin, Burkina Faso, Central Africa, Central America, China, Congo DR, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, East Timor, El Salvador, Ghana, Guiana, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Hawaii, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Laos, Malaysia, Mexico (country/location of origin), Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, North America, Northeastern India, Pacific, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, SE Asia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South America, Taiwan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Trinidad, USA, Venezuela, Vietnam, West Africa, West Indies (country/location of origin)

How it is used for food

The shoot tips are used as food flavouring. They are also used to make a mint flavoured drink. The seeds are soaked in water and as the seeds soften a slimy coat forms around them and is used as a drink.

Edible parts

Leaves - tea, seeds, leaves, spice, vegetable

How it is grown

The plants grow from seeds or cuttings.

Its other names

Local names

Amotan, Ara gusumpuru, Bhambairam, Bhunsri, Bilati tulsi, Bilayati tulsi, Bointim, Bush tea-bush, Chan, Chia gordo, Dimbubuha, (es) th(ow)m, t(is)a t(oo) d(aj)i, Ganga tulsi, Gros baume, Hierba de las muelas, Jangli silam, Jukut bau, Kara, Konivari, Lampesan, Loko-loko, Lubabibe, Maeng lak kha, Malbar hutan, Mang-kamang, Mintweed, Mrubria, Padja-de-musquito, Palha-mosquito, Pokpok kemangi, Purado, Sangura, Selaseh hutan, Shan xiang, Suob-kabayo, Vilyati tulsi, Wilayati tulsi, Wild basil, Wild spikenard

Synonyms

Ballota suaveolens L.; Bysteropogon graveolens (L.) Blume; Marrubium indicum Thunb. non Burm.f.; Mesosphaerum suaveolens (L.) Kuntze; Schauera graveolens (L.) Hasskarl;