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 grallatus is a herbaceous, perennial plant with 1 - 3 erect to ascending, branched stems arising annually from a tuberous rootstock; it can grow from 40 - 150cm tall[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine. The tubers are traded in eastern S. Africa (presumably for medicinal use)[]. The plant is sometimes grown as an ornamental in S. Africa[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Southern Africa - eastern S. Africa, Lesotho

Habitat

Forest, scrub forest and among rocks in shady places[].

Properties

Medicinal Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	1.00 m
Pollinators	Insects
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

This species and Plectranthus fruticosus are often confused in the herbarium. There are minor differences in the colour of the gland-dots, flower colour and toothing of the leaf margins; the main difference, however, is their range. Plectranthus grallatus is found further inland and at higher elevations than Plectranthus fruticosus, their ranges only very occasionally overlapping[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

The plant is used medicinally[, ]. No more information is given.

Other Uses

None known

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[].
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[]

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