Typical of the Lamiaceae family
Orthosiphon aristatus
Cat's Whiskers പൂച്ചമീശ
Malayalam name · See all regional names ↓
- Habit
- Herb
- Found in India
- Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka & more
- Flowering
- September-October
Cat's Whiskers in regional languages
Find the name you know, then compare it with the botanical profile. Columns list recorded aliases; they are not paired translations. A Latin spelling appears only when it is present in the source record.
| Language | Regional script | Recorded Latin spelling |
|---|---|---|
| Tamil | பூனை மீசை செடி | Not recorded |
| Malayalam | പൂച്ചമീശ | Orthosiphon aristatus |
See the original recorded names
- Tamil
- பூனை மீசை செடி
- Malayalam
- പൂച്ചമീശ, Orthosiphon aristatus
Ecology & growing context
- Native status · Kew WCVP
- WCVP native range includes Assam, India, Nicobar Is. Kew dataset ↗
Kew WCVP dataset; accepted-name match. Dataset matching is separate from an individual regional review. Recorded worldwide native range: Trop. & Subtrop. Asia to N. Australia.
- Recorded habitat
- Moist deciduous forests, also in the plains
- Explore nearby plants
- Kerala →Tamil Nadu →Karnataka →
Occurrence records show where a plant has been recorded; they do not establish that it is native there. Compare local habitat and growing conditions when choosing plants for a garden.
How to identify Cat's Whiskers
Identify Cat's Whiskers by combining habit, leaf characters, flower or fruit details, location, and its family pattern. Do not rely on one feature alone.
- Look for a herb habit.
- Check the distinctive field mark: Very long protruding stamens (cat's whiskers).
- Confirm leaf surface: Glabrous (smooth, hairless).
- Confirm flower colour: White.
- In season, compare flowering and fruiting time: September-October.
- In India, compare location records such as Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Assam and nearby regions.
- Confirm it sits within the Lamiaceae family pattern, then compare close relatives before deciding it is Cat's Whiskers.
Plant Details
Leaf characters
- Leaf surface
- Glabrous (smooth, hairless)recorded
Typical of the family
Characters marked “recorded” are for Cat's Whiskers itself; the rest are typical of the Lamiaceae family.
Flower & fruit characters
- Flower colour
- Whiterecorded
Typical of the family
- Inflorescence
- Cyme
- Fruit
- Nutlets
Characters marked “recorded” are for Cat's Whiskers itself; the rest are typical of the Lamiaceae family — flowering plants only.
About Cat's Whiskers
A member of the Lamiaceae family, Cat's Whiskers (Orthosiphon aristatus) is a herb. In India it has been recorded in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and 3 other states. It grows in moist deciduous forests, also in the plains. Flowering and fruiting run from September to October.
Lamiaceae
Mint/Sage family
Cat's Whiskers belongs to the Lamiaceae family.
The illustration represents the family — not necessarily this exact species.
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Common plant problems
If you are starting from symptoms instead of a diagnosis, use the plant disease symptom checker to narrow the cause before treating.
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