Pogostemon elsholtzioides
Family: Lamiaceae
What it is like
A shrub. It grows 1-3 m tall. The plant has an aroma. The stems are branched. Young stems are hairy and old stems are purple-brown. The leaves are sword shaped and 5-12 cm long by 1-4 cm wide. There is a tip at the end and they taper to the base. There are teeth along the edge. The leaves are dark green above and more pale underneath. The spikes are 3-9 cm long by 1.5 cm wide. They are in rings. The flowers are mauve to purple.
Where it is found
It is a subtropical plant. It grows in cleared wet broad-leaved forest.
Countries/locations it is found in
Asia, Bhutan, China, Himalayas, India, Myanmar, Northeastern India, SE Asia
How it is used for food
The young leaves are boiled with rice and eaten as a vegetable.
Edible parts
Leaves
How it is grown
Its other names
Local names
Phiziio