Platostoma hispidum

Family: Lamiaceae

What it is like

A herb or small shrub. It grows 1 m tall. The base can be lying along the ground and be woody. The leaves are narrowly oval and 1-5 cm long by 5-12 mm wide. They have teeth towards the tip. There are many flowers that overlap in layered spikes.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in rice paddies, alongside streams and on the edges of forests and in bamboo forests. It grows between 100-1,800 m above sea level. In Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Cambodia, China, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Nepal, Philippines, SE Asia, Thailand, Vietnam

How it is used for food

It is used as a fermenting substrate for making wine.

Edible parts

Leaves - drink, stems - drink

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Lerui jhangi, Leruwi jhangi, Nhan tran

Synonyms

Acrocephalus indicus Kuntze; Gomphrena hispida L.; Lumnitzera capitata (Roth) Spreng.; Ocimum acrocephalum Blume; and others