Elsholtzia ciliata

Elsholtzia ciliata, commonly known as Vietnamese balm, xiang ru (香薷) or kinh giới in Vietnamese, is a plant 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 Edit this 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.
Elsholtzia patrinii, Kuntze
Sideritis ciliata, Thunb.

Distribution and habitat

The plant is native to Asia. However, the exact extent of its original range is unclear.[3]

It is introduced in India and parts of North American and Europe.[4] Some of its habitats include riverbanks, forests, and hills.[5]

Description

Elsholtzia ciliata is an erect herb that grows to about 30–50 cm (12–20 in) in height.[5] The leaves are simple and opposite with serrated margins.[1]

Uses

Elsholtzia ciliata has many cultural uses.

Culinary

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]

  • Growing in Shangri-La, Yunnan province, China
    Growing in Shangri-La, Yunnan province, China
  • Growing in Shangri-La, Yunnan province, China
    Growing in Shangri-La, Yunnan province, China
  • Growing in Shangri-La, Yunnan province, China
    Growing in Shangri-La, Yunnan province, China

References
  1. "Elsholtzia ciliata (crested late-summer-mint): Go Botany". gobotany.nativeplanttrust.org. Retrieved 2023-02-12.
  2. "Kinh Gioi". www.kitazawaseed.com. Retrieved 2020-09-30.
  3. Wiersema, John H; Leon, Blanca (February 26, 1999). World Economic Plants. CRC Press. p. 200. ISBN 0-8493-2119-0.
  4. "Elsholtzia ciliata (Thunb.) Hyl. | Plants of the World Online | Kew Science". Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 2023-02-12.
  5. "Elsholtzia ciliata in Flora of China @ efloras.org". www.efloras.org. Retrieved 2023-02-12.
  6. "Vietnamese Balm, Kinh Gioi (Elsholtzia ciliata) | My Garden Life". www.mygardenlife.com. Retrieved 2020-09-30.
  7. Manandhar, Narayan P; Manandhar, Sanjay (April 1, 2002). Plants and People of Nepal. Timber Press. p. 217. ISBN 0-88192-527-6.
  8. Monachino, Joseph (1958). Elsholtzia ciliata in New York. Bulletin of the Torrey Botanical Club. Torrey Botanical Society.
  9. Dietz, S. Theresa (2022-08-09). The Complete Language of Herbs: A Definitive and Illustrated History. Wellfleet Press. p. 96. ISBN 978-1-57715-282-8.

Bibliography
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