Practical
Plants

Elsholtzia ciliata

an annual member of the Elsholtzia genus in the family Labiatae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Family
Labiatae
Life cycle
annual
Height
0.6 m
Fertility
Insects
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Insects

Uses

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Young leaves - raw or cooked[1][3]. Finely cut then added to salads or used as a potherb[5]. The leaves can be used as an aromatic condiment for vegetable dishes[5]. The powdered seeds are used as a condiment for flavouring foodstuffs[7].

Product or use
Condiment
Plant part
Leaves

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The plant is antibacterial, antipyretic, antiviral, astringent, carminative, diaphoretic, diuretic and stomachic[11][2][4][8]. Its use is said to relieve the effects of excess alcohol[11][4]. It is used in the treatment of common colds, fevers, headaches, diarrhoea, oedema and oliguria[2][8]. The plant has a broad-spectrum antibacterial action[2].

Product or use
Antibacterial
Product or use
Antipyretic
Product or use
Antiviral
Product or use
Astringent
Product or use
Carminative
Product or use
Depurative
Product or use
Diaphoretic
Product or use
Diuretic
Product or use
Stomachic

Environment

Range
N. Europe. N. America. N. Asia.
Habitat
Roadsides, old fields etc in Eastern N. America[9]. Grassy areas in mountains in Korea[8].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 5+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - sow late spring in situ[6].

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

An easily grown plant, it succeeds in most soils. Cultivated for ornament in N. and E. Europe[10].

References

  1. Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976-00-00

    ↩

  2. Yeung. Him-Che. Handbook of Chinese Herbs and Formulas. Institute of Chinese Medicine, Los Angeles 1985-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3

  3. Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169

    ↩

  4. Stuart. Rev. G. A. Chinese Materia Medica. Taipei. Southern Materials Centre

    ↩1↩2

  5. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

    ↩1↩2

  6. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩

  7. Manandhar. N. P. Plants and People of Nepal Timber Press. Oregon. 2002-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-527-6

    ↩

  8. Medicinal Plants in the Republic of Korea World Health Organisation, Manila 1998-00-00 ISBN 92 9061 120 0

    ↩1↩2↩3

  9. Fernald. M. L. Gray's Manual of Botany. American Book Co. 1950-00-00

    ↩

  10. ? Flora Europaea Cambridge University Press 1964-00-00

    ↩

  11. Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202

    ↩1↩2

Edit this page