Lamiaceae FAMILY

Perilla frutescens

Edibility

4/5

Medicinal

3/5

Safety & Hazards

There have been cases of toxicity, including dermatitis, pulmonary oedema, respiratory distress and even death following ingestion by cattle and horses[ 274 Title Illustrated Flora of North Central Texas Publication Author Diggs, Jnr. G.M.; Lipscomb. B. L. & O'Kennon. R. J Website http://artemis.austincollege.edu/acad/bio/gdiggs/NCTXpdf.htm Publisher Botanical Research Institute, Texas. Year 1999 ISBN 1-889878-01-4 Description An excellent flora, which is also available on-line. ].

Botanical Description

Perilla frutescens is an erect, often profusely branched, annual to perennial plant that can grow from 30 - 200cm tall[ 266 Title Flora of China Publication Author Website http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/ Publisher Missouri Botanical Garden Press; St. Louis. Year 1994 ISBN Description An excellent, comprehensive resource in 25 volumes. In addition to the botanical information the flora also gives basic information on habitat and some uses. An on-line version is also available. ]. Shiso is a very popular food in the Orient, though often considered strange to Western palettes. The plant is also widely used in traditional medicine in eastern Asia and is the source of a good quality oil. It is commonly cultivated in the Orient for its various uses and is sometimes used as an ornamental in sub-tropical bedding schemes in the temperate zone, where it is valued especially for its purple-leaved cultivars[ 1 Title RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Publication Author F. Chittendon. Publisher Oxford University Press Year 1951 ISBN - Description Comprehensive listing of species and how to grow them. Somewhat outdated, it has been replaced in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [ 200 ]). ]. Perilla frutescens is often cultivated for ornament and its various uses. The plant has escaped from cultivation and become a weed in some areas[ 418 Title Ecocrop Publication Author Website http://ecocrop.fao.org/ecocrop/srv/en/home Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description Basic information on a wide range of useful plants, plus details of environmental needs where available. ].

Habitat & Origin

Origintemperate; tropical

Native RangeE. Asia - India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Myanmar, southern and eastern China, Korea, Russian Far East, Japan, Indochina, Indonesia (Java)

HabitatHills and mountains of central and southern Japan[ 58 Title Flora of Japan. (English translation) Publication Author Ohwi. G. Publisher Smithsonian Institution Year 1965 ISBN - Description The standard work. Brilliant, but not for the casual reader. ]. Sunny and fertile situations in China[ 147 Title A Barefoot Doctors Manual. Publication Author ? Publisher Running Press; Philadelphica. Year 1977 ISBN 0-914294-92-X Description A very readable herbal from China, combining some modern methods with traditional chinese methods. ]. Pastures and fields, dry woods, along roadsides, about home-sites, and in waste places[ 418 Title Ecocrop Publication Author Website http://ecocrop.fao.org/ecocrop/srv/en/home Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description Basic information on a wide range of useful plants, plus details of environmental needs where available. ].