Classification
Kingdom: Plantae (2653)
Phylum: Tracheophyta (2566)
Class: Magnoliopsida (2162)
Order: Lamiales (195)
Family: Lamiaceae (96)(family description)
Genus: Perilla (1)
Epithet: frutescens (L.) Britton (1)
Synonyms: Melissa maxima Ard., Mentha perilloides Lam., Ocimum frutescens L., Perilla albiflora Odash., Perilla avium Dunn, Perilla ocymoides L., Perilla shimadae Kudô, Perilla urticifolia Salisb.
albiflora => white-flowered
avium => from 'avis', meaning birds
frutescens => shrubby, becoming shrubby
maxima => largest
ocymoides => resembling basil
perilloides => resembling Perilla
shimadae => in honor of Yaichi Shimada (1884-1971), Japanese botanist
urticifolia => nettle-leaved