Mesosphaerum suaveolens

Mesosphaerum suaveolens, synonym Hyptis suaveolens, chia, pignut, or chan, is a branching pseudocereal plant native to tropical regions of Mexico, Central, the West Indies, and South America, as well as being naturalized in tropical parts of Africa, Asia and Australia. It is generally 1–1.5 m (3.3–4.9 ft) tall, occasionally up to 3 m (9.8 ft). Stems are hairy, and square in cross section. Leaves are oppositely arranged, 2–10 cm (0.79–3.94 in) long, with shallowly toothed margins, and emit a strong minty odor if crushed. Flowers are pink or purple, arranged in clusters of 1–5 in the upper leaf axils.

Mesosphaerum suaveolens
Mesosphaerum suaveolens (Vilayti Tulsi) in Hyderabad
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Lamiales
Family: Lamiaceae
Genus: Mesosphaerum
Species:
M. suaveolens
Binomial name
Mesosphaerum suaveolens
Synonyms
  • Ballota suaveolens L.
  • Bystropogon graveolens Blume
  • Bystropogon suaveolens (L.) L'Hér.
  • Gnoteris cordata Raf.
  • Gnoteris villosa Raf.
  • Hyptis congesta Leonard
  • Hyptis ebracteata R.Br.
  • Hyptis graveolens Schrank
  • Hyptis plumieri Poit.
  • Hyptis suaveolens (L.) Poit.
  • Marrubium indicum Blanco
  • Schaueria graveolens (Blume) Hassk.
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