Hoslundia | |
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Scientific classification ![]() | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Asterids |
Order: | Lamiales |
Family: | Lamiaceae |
Subfamily: | Nepetoideae |
Tribe: | Ocimeae |
Genus: | Hoslundia Vahl |
Species: | H. opposita |
Binomial name | |
Hoslundia opposita | |
Synonyms [1] | |
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Hoslundia is a genus of flowering plant in the family Lamiaceae, first described in 1804. It contains only one known species, Hoslundia opposita. It is widespread across much of sub-Saharan Africa. [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] [15]
Spreading, erect or subscandent shrub-like perennial herb up to 3–4 m tall, often regenerating and flowering after fire. Stems and branches sharply 4-angled; branches opposite. Leaves with strong and rather unpleasant smell; petiolate, opposite or sometimes ternate, blade grey-green, ovate-lanceolate to ovate-elliptic, 35-70 x 18-25 mm; apex acute, base cuneate; velvety; margin serrate; petiole short. Flowers in terminal, rather lax panicles or racemes. Calyx 5-toothed, 4 mm long at flowering; teeth narrow, about 1 mm long; tube cylindric, becoming globose and fleshy in fruit. Corolla bilabiate, white or cream, 6–7 mm long; tube straight, subcylindric; upper lip short, erect, 1 mm long, 3-lobed; lower lip patent, a little longer. Fruit fleshy, ovoid, ribbed, bright orange when ripe; edible and are relished by birds.
Widespread in tropical Africa — Senegal to Eritrea and Somalia, through Africa south to South Africa and Madagascar.