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 monostachyus is a slightly succulent, aromatic, usually annual plant, though perennial forms where the stems can become more or less woody are also known. The branched stems can be erect or decumbent, up to 100cm long[].
The plant is a popular local food and traditional medicine. It is often harvested from the wild and is sometimes also cultivated as a leaf crop[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Tropical Africa - Senegal to Central African Republic and Chad, south to northern Angola, DR Congo.

Habitat

Found in a range of habitats; growing as an annual weed in anthropogenic habitats, but also as a perennial herb or even subshrub in rocky savannah[].

Properties

Weed Potential	Yes
Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Habit	Annual/Perennial
Height	0.70 m
Pollinators	Insects
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details

Although we have seen no reports for this plant as an invasive weed outside its native range, it is a common weed within its range[].

Edible Uses

Leaves - cooked and eaten as a potherb[].

Medicinal

The plant has numerous medicinal uses.
The ethanolic leaf extract contains an anticonvulsant principle which depresses the central nervous system[].
The leaf essential oil contains beta-pinene (13%), oct-1-en-3-ol (12.5%), beta-caryophyllene (7%), octan-3-ol (7%) and (E,E)-α-farnesene (6%) as the major constituents.[].

The leaf sap is considered sedative and stomachic and is applied internally to treat colic, convulsions, fever, headache and cough, especially in children[]. Moreover, leaves are used to treat dysmenorrhoea, haematuria, femalesterility, rheumatism, foot infections and snakebites[].
The leaf sap is applied externally as a treatment against eyesight troubles and aphthae[].

The roots are used to treat onchocerciasis (river-blindness, crawcraw)[].

The plant has many ritual uses, especially related to pregnancy[].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed -

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