Plectranthus punctatus lanatus
J.K.Morton
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).
Coleus aquaticus Gürke
Coleus clivicola S.Moore
Coleus edulis Vatke
Coleus fimbriatus Lebrun & L.Touss.
Coleus palustris Vatke
Coleus rivularis Vatke
Coleus tuberosus A.Rich.
Majana richardiana Kuntze
Plectranthus edulis (Vatke) Agnew
Plectranthus fimbriatus (Lebrun & L.Touss.) Troupin & Ayob.
Plectranthus punctatus edulis (Vatke) A.J.Paton
Common Name: Gala Dinich
General Information
Plectranthus punctatus edulis is a herbaceous perennial plant growing from a tuberous rootstock.
The plant has a long history of cultivation as a food crop in the Ethiopian Highlands[
]. It is also harvested for local use as a medicine.
Known Hazards
None known
Botanical References
Range
Tropical Africa - Cameroon, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Uganda, Burundi, Rwanda, DR Congo, Kenya, Tanzania.
Habitat
Mountainous regions, 1,800 - 2,100 metres.
Properties
| Edibility Rating |  |
| Habit | Perennial |
| Height | 0.00 m |
| Pollinators | Insects |
| Cultivation Status | Cultivated |
Cultivation Details
Not known
Edible Uses
Root - cooked[
22- Title
- Alternative Foods.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Sholto-Douglas. J.
- Publisher
-
- Year
-
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Not very comprehensive, it seems more or less like a copy of earlier writings with little added.
,
46- Title
- Dictionary of Economic Plants.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Uphof. J. C. Th.
- Publisher
- Weinheim
- Year
- 1959
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader.
,
61- Title
- A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Usher. G.
- Publisher
- Constable
- Year
- 1974
- ISBN
- 0094579202
- Description
- Forget the sexist title, this is one of the best books on the subject. Lists a very extensive range of useful plants from around the world with very brief details of the uses. Not for the casual reader.
,
105- Title
- Tanaka's Cyclopedia of Edible Plants of the World.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Tanaka. T. & Nakao S.
- Publisher
- Keigaku Publishing; Tokyo
- Year
- 1976
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- The most comprehensive list of edible plants I've come across. Only the briefest entry for each species, though, and some of the entries are more than a little dubious. Not for the casual reader.
]. Rich in starch[
].
Leaves - cooked[
]. The leaves are quite aromatic[
K- Title
- Plants for a Future
- Author
- Ken Fern
- Description
- Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
].
Medicinal
The plant is used in the treatment of digestive and respiratory complaints[
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
None known
Propagation
Seed - surface sow and seal the pot in a plastic bag until germination takes place - this is usually within 2 weeks at 20°c[
164- Title
- Growing from Seed. Volume 4.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Bird. R. (Editor)
- Publisher
- Thompson and Morgan.
- Year
- 1990
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- Very readable magazine with lots of information on propagation. A good article on Yuccas, one on Sagebrush (Artemesia spp) and another on Chaerophyllum bulbosum.
]. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out when 25cm or more tall.
Division. Harvest the tubers in the autumn after the top growth has died back, store them in a cool but frost-free place over winter and plant them out in spring.
If you have any useful information about this plant, please leave a comment. Comments have to be approved before they are shown here.
Useful Tropical Plants Database 2014 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
