| Equilabium | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Lamiales |
| Family: | Lamiaceae |
| Tribe: | Ocimeae |
| Genus: | Equilabium Mwany., A.J.Paton & Culham [1] [2] |
Equilabium is a genus of flowering plants in the family Lamiaceae. It was split off from the genus Plectranthus in 2018 as the result of a molecular phylogenetic study. Most species are native to Africa, with two found in the Indian subcontinent. [2]
Species of Equilabium are herbaceous or soft-wooded shrubs, rarely woody shrubs. The herbaceous species may be annual or perennial. The leaves are opposite. The inflorescences are "thryses" – compound structures in which the flowers are arranged on secondary branches. Individual flowers have stalks (pedicels). The sepals form a two-lipped funnel shape, the upper lip having four lobes, the lower lip one lobe. The petals form a two-lipped tube, with an S-shaped basal portion. There are four stamens, whose filaments are not fused together. The style is divided into two parts (bifid). The nutlets are ovoid. [2]
Equilabium and Plectranthus species are distinguished from Coleus by having the stem (pedicel) of the calyx attached symmetrically to the base of the calyx tube, rather than opposite the upper lip, and having the corolla lobes more or less equal in length. Equilabium species can be distinguished from Plectranthus by the truncated shape of the throat of the calyx and by the usually S-shaped tube of the corolla, which is parallel-sided at the base. [2]
The genus Equilabium was first described in 2018 as the result of a molecular phylogenetic study. Equilabium was split off from the genus Plectranthus , which was discovered not to be monophyletic. Only the names of the genus and the type species, Equilabium laxiflorum , were formally published at the time. [3] The names of 41 more species were published in 2019. [2]
In 2019, Paton et al. published a summary cladogram for the subtribe Plectranthinae, [2] based on an earlier 2018 study. [3] The new genus Equilabium was established and Coleus revived. [2] In the version below, the three genera accepted in these studies that were formerly included in a broad circumscription of Plectranthus are highlighted.
| Tribe Ocimeae |
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Paton et al. (2019) list 42 species: [2] [4]
Solenostemon is a former genus of flowering plants in the family Lamiaceae. It has been included in the genus Plectranthus, but is now included in an expanded Coleus. They are native to tropical Africa, Asia and Australia. Some species formerly placed in this genus are cultivated for their highly variegated leaves.
Ocimum is a genus of aromatic annual and perennial herbs and shrubs in the family Lamiaceae, native to the tropical and warm temperate regions of all 6 inhabited continents, with the greatest number of species in Africa. It is the genus of basil and its best known species are the cooking herb great basil, O. basilicum, and the medicinal herb tulsi, O. tenuiflorum.
Plectranthus is a genus of about 85 species of flowering plants from the sage family, Lamiaceae, found mostly in southern and tropical Africa and Madagascar. Common names include spur-flower. Plectranthus species are herbaceous perennial plants, rarely annuals or soft-wooded shrubs, sometimes succulent; sometimes with a tuberous base.
Orthosiphon is a genus of plants in the family Lamiaceae native to Africa, Southern Asia and Queensland, with one species (O. americanus) in Colombia. They are herbaceous shrubs which grow to a height of 1.5 m (5 ft). Some Orthosiphon species are popular garden plants because of their flowers, which are white and bluish with filaments resembling a cat's whiskers. In the wild, the plants can be seen growing in forests and along roadsides.
Coleus caninus, synonym Plectranthus caninus, is a herb from the mint family Lamiaceae, native to southern and eastern Africa from Angola to Sudan and to India and Myanmar.
Coleus scutellarioides, commonly known as coleus, is a species of flowering plant in the family Lamiaceae, native to southeast Asia through to Australia. Typically growing to 60–75 cm (24–30 in) tall and wide, it is a bushy, woody-based evergreen perennial, widely grown for the highly decorative variegated leaves found in cultivated varieties. Another common name is painted nettle, reflecting its relationship to deadnettles, which are in the same family. The synonyms Coleus blumei, Plectranthus scutellarioides and Solenostemon scutellarioides are also widely used for this species.
Coleus is a genus of annual or perennial herbs or shrubs, sometimes succulent, sometimes with a fleshy or tuberous rootstock, found in the Afro-Eurasia tropics and subtropics.
Tinnea (sunbells) is a genus of plants in the family Lamiaceae first described in 1867. It is native to sub-Saharan Africa. It was named in honour of the Dutch explorer Alexine Tinne.
Aeollanthus (rocksage) is a genus in the mint family, Lamiaceae. All the species are native to Africa.
Capitanopsis is a genus of plants in the family Lamiaceae, first described in 1916. It contains six known species, all endemic to Madagascar.
Endostemon (keepsafe) is a genus of plants in the family Lamiaceae, first described in 1910. It is native primarily to eastern Africa, with some species in central and southern Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, Madagascar, and the Indian subcontinent.
Haumaniastrum is a genus of flowering plants in the mint family, Lamiaceae, first described in 1959. The species are native to Africa.
Pycnostachys is a genus of plants in the family Lamiaceae, first described in 1826. It is native to sub-Saharan Africa including Madagascar.
Syncolostemon (sagebushes) is a genus of plants in the family Lamiaceae, first described in 1838. It is native primarily to South Africa, with some species in other parts of sub-Saharan Africa, plus one species in India.
Coleus maculosus is a species of flowering plant in the family Lamiaceae. It is widespread in tropical Africa and Madagascar.
Coleus comosus, synonym Plectranthus ornatus, is a flowering plant from the mint family Lamiaceae, native to eastern Africa.
Capitanopsis brevilabra is a species of flowering plant in the family Lamiaceae. It is an herb or shrub native to southeastern Madagascar. It flowers in March.
Capitanopsis oreophila, synonym Plectranthus bipinnatus, is a species of flowering plant in the family Lamiaceae. It is a small shrub native to Madagascar, where it is commonly known as andriamborondrao.