Hortus Botanicus Leiden, Netherlands

Common name: Anijsnetel, Dropplant, Koreaanse munt, Korean mint, 藿香 huo xiang

Family: Lamiaceae (Mint family)

Distribution: China, Japan, Korea

Life form: Perennial

Comments: This fragrant plant, formerly also called Lophanthus rugosus, originates from China, Korea, and Japan. It is mainly grown in East Asia and North America, where it is used against belly-ache, and to harvest the fragrant oil that is used in medicine. It is a typical member of the mint family, with square stems, opposite leaves and purple blue lip flowers. It is covered in soft hairs and smells of anise. In this country it is not a well-known garden plant, although it flowers all summer and attracts bees. It is one of the fifty fundamental herbs in Traditional Chinese Medicine, where the whole plant is used for the treatment of abdominal pain, vomiting, headache and as the source of an essential oil.