Elsholtzia ciliata
Species of flowering plant
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Elsholtzia ciliata, commonly known as Vietnamese balm, comb mint, xiang ru (香薷) or kinh giới in Vietnamese, is a flowering plant in the family Lamiaceae native to Asia. In the US, it is commonly known as crested late summer mint.[1] In US Vietnamese grocery stores, it is called kinh gioi, Vietnamese lemon balm, or Vietnamese lemon mint.[2]
| Elsholtzia ciliata | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Lamiales |
| Family: | Lamiaceae |
| Genus: | Elsholtzia |
| Species: | E. ciliata |
| Binomial name | |
| Elsholtzia ciliata (Thunb.) Hyl. | |
| Synonyms | |
|
Elsholtzia cristata, Willd. | |
Distribution and habitat
Description
Uses
Culinary
Elsholtzia ciliata has many cultural uses. It is used in Vietnamese cuisine, where it is called rau kinh giới or lá kinh giới. The leaves are used to flavor meat dishes, soups, and salads with a lemony flavor.[6]
Traditional medicine
It is commonly used in herbal medicine, as it is considered to be carminative and astringent.[7]
Cultivation
It is cultivated as an ornamental plant. It prefers moist soil, and grows mostly on exposed rocky slopes and other open, gravelly areas.[8]
It is banned in the state of Connecticut and is classified as a noxious weed. It was first reported in the Americas in 1889.[9]
Gallery
Growing in Shangri-La, Yunnan province, China
Growing in Shangri-La, Yunnan province, China
Growing in Shangri-La, Yunnan province, China
