Pogostemon parviflorus Benth.

Herb with strong, solid, angular stem. Leaves opposite; petiole 2.5 cm long; blade ovate, 13 cm x 6 cm, base cuneate, margin double dentate, apex acuminate. Fruit composed of 4 nutlets; nutlet obovoid, 1.2 mm long, finely punctate. Inflorescence a verticillaster, arranged in a terminal false spike, about 7 cm long, at base branched into more than 2 lateral spikes; calyx inflated, tubular, about 4 mm long, hairy outside, glabrous inside, with 5 ciliate teeth of about 1 mm length; corolla tubular, up to 8.7 mm long, 2-lipped, upper lip 3-lobed; stamens 4, inserted at different heights in the corolla tube, filaments 5-7 mm long. It much resembles P. plectranthoides Desf., but its narrower corolla tube and less crowded inflorescence are distinctive.

P. benghalensis occurs in open riverine forest, but is also cultivated in India.

P. benghalensis is occasionally cultivated.

Apiculture: The flowers are a well known source of pollen and nectar for bees to produce panagol honey.

Essential oils: The leaves are used to distil a kind of patchouli oil which has an odour reminiscent of cedar wood. Medicine: The oil is used as a stimulant and styptic. Fresh leaves are used to clean wounds and promote their healing.