Statue of Unity – Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat Rain Forest Ektanagar

Pogostemon benghalensis

Syn. Origanum benghalense

IUCN Red List Not Evaluated (NE)

Local name

  • Bengal Shrub-Mint (English)
  • Pangli (Marathi)

Shrub type

Evergreen Deciduous
Family: Lamiaceae
2.5m

Indicated uses

Medicinal Edible Ornamental Avenue Other

Flowering & fruiting

Flowering Fruiting

Key characters

Pogostemon benghalensis bark

Bark

Smooth, dark purple to greenish-brown bark covering square-shaped (quadrangular) branches that are often covered in fine, soft hairs.

Pogostemon benghalensis leaves

Leaves

Simple, opposite, ovate-lanceolate leaves (7–15 cm long) with coarsely double-toothed margins, emitting a strong, distinct patchouli-like scent when crushed.

Pogostemon benghalensis flower

Flower

Tiny, pinkish-purple to white flowers packed into dense, fuzzy, candle-like terminal spikes, featuring long, projecting, hair-like stamens that give the cluster a feathery look.

Pogostemon benghalensis fruit / seeds

Fruit / Seeds

Small, smooth, ovoid nutlets (~1 mm) that dry out to turn dark brown or black, holding minute seeds

Pogostemon benghalensis

Did you know?

In traditional tribal medicine, crushed fresh leaves of Bengal Shrub-Mint are applied to cuts and wounds as a folk remedy believed to help control bleeding and protect against infection.

Distribution

World map showing distribution

Indian Subcontinent to Indo-China