Isodon (teacost) is a genus of flowering plants in the family Lamiaceae described in 1840.Spach, Édouard. 1840. Histoire Naturelle des Végétaux. Phanérogames 9: 162 descriptions in Latin, commentary in FrenchBentham, George. 1832. Labiatarum Genera et Species 40Tropicos, Isodon (Schrad. ex Benth.) Spach It is native to tropical and subtropical parts of the Old World, primarily Asia but two species are from Africa. Many of the species are endemic to China, where it is called xiangchacai or "fragrant tea".Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant FamiliesFlora of China Vol. 17 Page 269 香茶菜属 xiang cha cai shu Isodon (Schrader ex Bentham) Spach, Hist. Nat. Veg. 9: 162. 1840. In China, a rapid radiation of Isodon occurred during the Pliocene that coincided with a shift from herbs inhabiting humid areas to shrubs inhabiting dry valleys.
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