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Useful Tropical Plants

Plectranthus pseudomarrubioides

R.H.Willemse

Lamiaceae


Some species of Plectranthus are difficult to identify because of a lack of clear-cut morphological criteria to discriminate not only among species within the genus but also among the closely related genera. This has resulted in numerous taxonomic problems in the naming of species with the result that species have often been placed in several closely related genera like Coleus, Solenostemon and Englerastrum. In addition, some species formally placed in Plectranthus, are now recognized as the more distantly related genus Isodon.
Because of these taxonomic issues, different names have often been used for the same species of Plectranthus and thus it has been difficult to collate information about the ethnobotanical uses of this genus. Furthermore, the most commonly used medicinal species of Plectranthus have a high degree of synonymy[
1346
Title
Plectranthus: A review of ethnobotanical uses
Publication
Journal of Ethnopharmacology 103 (2006) 1-24
Author
Lukhoba C.W.; Simmonds M.S.J.; Paton A.J.
Publisher
 
Year
2006
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent guide to the uses of Plectranthus species, giving the basic uses and the literature supporting this.
].
This report is very much indebted to the work of C.W. Lukhoba et al. - Journal of Ethnopharmacology 103 (2006) 1-24[
1346
Title
Plectranthus: A review of ethnobotanical uses
Publication
Journal of Ethnopharmacology 103 (2006) 1-24
Author
Lukhoba C.W.; Simmonds M.S.J.; Paton A.J.
Publisher
 
Year
2006
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent guide to the uses of Plectranthus species, giving the basic uses and the literature supporting this.
] in untangling much of this mess of names, and utilizes the on-line Kew database ‘World Checklist of Selected Plant Families (http://wcsp.science.kew.org/home.do) for determining currently accepted names and synonyms (as of 2018).

+ Synonyms

Coleus succulentus Pax

Common Name:

No Image.

General Information

Plectranthus pseudomarrubioides is a succulent, perennial plant with scandent or prostrate stems; it can grow up to 1 metre tall. The plant produces short axillary shoots which can fall off to produce new plants[
1355
Title
Plants of the World online
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://powo.science.kew.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An on-line database giving detailed descriptions of almost 40,000 species of plants (as of 2018), almost 25,000 images and a list of almost 850,000 plant names. A truly excellent resource and still growing.
].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine. It is grown as an ornamental[
1346
Title
Plectranthus: A review of ethnobotanical uses
Publication
Journal of Ethnopharmacology 103 (2006) 1-24
Author
Lukhoba C.W.; Simmonds M.S.J.; Paton A.J.
Publisher
 
Year
2006
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent guide to the uses of Plectranthus species, giving the basic uses and the literature supporting this.
].
A widely distributed plant, it is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2013)[
1355
Title
Plants of the World online
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://powo.science.kew.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An on-line database giving detailed descriptions of almost 40,000 species of plants (as of 2018), almost 25,000 images and a list of almost 850,000 plant names. A truly excellent resource and still growing.
].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

1355
Title
Plants of the World online
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://powo.science.kew.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An on-line database giving detailed descriptions of almost 40,000 species of plants (as of 2018), almost 25,000 images and a list of almost 850,000 plant names. A truly excellent resource and still growing.

Range

East tropical Africa - Ethiopia, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania; Arabian Peninsula - Saudi Arabia

Habitat

Rocks or dry grassland, often scrambling up through thick vegetation; at elevations from 1,200 - 2,100 metres[
1355
Title
Plants of the World online
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://powo.science.kew.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An on-line database giving detailed descriptions of almost 40,000 species of plants (as of 2018), almost 25,000 images and a list of almost 850,000 plant names. A truly excellent resource and still growing.
].

Properties

Conservation StatusLeast Concern
Medicinal Rating *  *
Other Uses Rating *  *
HabitPerennial
Height1.00 m
PollinatorsInsects
Cultivation StatusOrnamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Not known

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

The plant is used in the treatment of skin conditions[
1346
Title
Plectranthus: A review of ethnobotanical uses
Publication
Journal of Ethnopharmacology 103 (2006) 1-24
Author
Lukhoba C.W.; Simmonds M.S.J.; Paton A.J.
Publisher
 
Year
2006
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent guide to the uses of Plectranthus species, giving the basic uses and the literature supporting this.
].

Other Uses

The leaves are rubbed on the body to act as an insect repellant[
1346
Title
Plectranthus: A review of ethnobotanical uses
Publication
Journal of Ethnopharmacology 103 (2006) 1-24
Author
Lukhoba C.W.; Simmonds M.S.J.; Paton A.J.
Publisher
 
Year
2006
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent guide to the uses of Plectranthus species, giving the basic uses and the literature supporting this.
].

Propagation

Seed - sow in well-drained soil, covering lightly with a thin layer of sand, and place in a warm but shaded spot. The seed germinates in about three weeks[
295
Title
PlantZAfrica.com
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.plantzafrica.com
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent site giving detailed descriptions and uses of many S. African plants.
].
Cuttings of Plectranthus species generally root easily - soft tips root faster than semi-hardwood growth. The cuttings are best taken 60 - 100mm long with three or four nodes, making the cut just below a node. Place them in sand, perlite, vermiculite or peat, or any mixture of these, keep them moist and shaded and they should root in 2 - 3 weeks[
295
Title
PlantZAfrica.com
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.plantzafrica.com
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent site giving detailed descriptions and uses of many S. African plants.
]
The short, axillary shoots often fall off and root, to produce new plants. These shoots can be removed from the plant and potted up.
Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2024-03-28. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Plectranthus+pseudomarrubioides>

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