Please note that the content of this book primarily consists of articles
available from Wikipedia or other free sources online. Perilla
frutescens (syn. Perilla nankinensis (Lour.) Decne.) is an edible herb
and ornamental plant in the Lamiaceae family. Its common names is
perilla, and is sometimes called beefsteak plant, Chinese basil, wild
basil, purple mint, rattlesnake weed, or summer coleus. Its leaves are
used as foods in Southern China, Japan and Korea and its seeds are used
to make edible oil in Korea. Sometimes, the seeds are ground and added
to soup for seasoning in Korea. It has also been used in traditional
Chinese medicine for more than two thousand years.
