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[].
This report is very much indebted to the work of C.W. Lukhoba et al. - Journal of Ethnopharmacology 103 (2006) 1–24[] 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).

Common Name:

General Information

Plectranthus aegyptiacus is a succulent, perennial plant with straggling stems that become more or less woody; it can grow 100 - 200cm tall[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and a medicine. It is a potential economic source of the essential oil thymol.
The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2013)[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

Eastern Africa - Eritrea, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Somalia, Sudan, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania; Arabian Peninsula - Yemen

Habitat

Among rocks in Acacia-Commiphora bushland, also found in abandoned cultivation and disturbed ground; at elevations from sea level to 1,300 metres[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Least Concern
Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Shrub
Height	1.50 m
Pollinators	Insects
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

The plant is aromatic[].
The seeds become mucilaginous when wet[].

Edible Uses

Root - cooked[].

Medicinal

The plant is used to treat sore throats, laryngitis, ear infections and stomach aches, and as a medicine to treat ailments associated with sexual misconduct[].

Agroforestry Uses:

The flowers are attractive to bees[].

Other Uses

An essential oil obtained from the plant is a rich source of thymol (58.49%) and is a potential economic source of thymol.

Propagation

Seed -
Division
Cuttings

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