Pogostemon

{{Short description|Genus of plants}}

{{Automatic taxobox

|image = Pogostemon_cablin_001.jpg

|image_caption = Pogostemon cablin

|taxon = Pogostemon

|authority = Desf.

|synonyms_ref =

|synonyms =

• Wensea J.C.Wendl.
• Dysophylla Blume
• Chotekia Opiz & Corda
• Eusteralis Raf.
• Dysophylla El Gazzar & L.Watson ex Airy Shaw 1967 not Blume 1826
• Anuragia Raizada illegitimate name

}}

Pogostemon is a large genus from the family Lamiaceae, first described as a genus in 1815. It is native to warmer parts of Asia, Africa, and Australia.[http://apps.kew.org/wcsp/namedetail.do?name_id=162080 Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families]

The best known member of this genus is patchouli, Pogostemon cablin, widely cultivated in Asia for its scented foliage, used for perfume, incense, insect repellent, herbal tea, etc.Leung A, Foster S Encyclopedia of common natural ingredients used in food, drugs and cosmetics John Wiley and Sons 1996 In 1997, it was proposed for the genus to be split into three subgenera— Allopogostemon Bhatti & Ingr., Dysophyllus (Blume) Bhatti & Ingr., and Pogostemon sensu Bhatti & Ingr. based on numerous morphological characteristics.{{Cite journal|date=2018-06-01|title=Leaf micromorphological adaptation of Pogostemon spp. (section Eusteralis) in Thailand|journal=Agriculture and Natural Resources|language=en|volume=52|issue=3|pages=250–258|doi=10.1016/j.anres.2018.09.002|issn=2452-316X|doi-access=free|last1=Pramali |first1=Kanjana |last2=Bongcheewin |first2=Bhanubong |last3=Traiperm |first3=Paweena }}Bhatti, G. R. and M. Ingrouille. “Systematics of Pogostemon (Labiatae).” Bulletin of The Natural History Museum. Botany Series (1997): n. pag.INGROUILLE, M. & Bhatti, Ghulamraza. (2008). Infrageneric relationships within Pogostemon Desf. (Labiatae). Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society. 128. 159 - 183. 10.1111/j.1095-8339.1998.tb02114.x. However, the significant variability in these traits as well as possible convergent evolution within this genus has made classification of species challenging.Yao, G., Deng, Y., & Ge, X. (2015). A TAXONOMIC REVISION OF POGOSTEMON (LAMIACEAE) FROM CHINA. Phytotaxa, 200, 1-67. Some members of the genus (e.g. Pogostemon erectus, Pogostemon stellatus, Pogostemon helferi) are grown ornamentally in the aquarium hobby and are used for aquascaping.