The Lamiaceae or Labiatae are a family of flowering plants commonly known as the mint or deadnettle or sage family. Many of the plants are aromatic in all parts and include widely used culinary herbs like basil, mint, rosemary, sage, savory, marjoram, oregano, hyssop, thyme, lavender, and perilla, as well as other medicinal herbs such as catnip, salvia, bee balm, wild dagga, and oriental motherwort. Some species are shrubs, trees, or, rarely, vines. Many members of the family are widely cultivated, not only for their aromatic qualities, but also their ease of cultivation, since they are readily propagated by stem cuttings. Besides those grown for their edible leaves, some are grown for decorative foliage. Others are grown for seed, such as Salvia hispanica (chia), or for their edible tubers, such as Plectranthus edulis, Plectranthus esculentus, Plectranthus rotundifolius, and Stachys affinis. Many are also grown ornamentally, notably coleus, Plectranthus, and many Salvia species and hybrids.
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.
Coleus amboinicus, synonym Plectranthus amboinicus, is a semi-succulent perennial plant in the family Lamiaceae with a pungent oregano-like flavor and odor. Coleus amboinicus is considered to be native to parts of Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, and India, although it is widely cultivated and naturalized elsewhere in the tropics where it is used as a spice and ornamental plant. Common names in English include Indian borage, country borage, French thyme, Indian mint, Mexican mint, Cuban oregano, soup mint, Spanish thyme. The species epithet, amboinicus refers to Ambon Island, in Indonesia, where it was apparently encountered and described by João de Loureiro.
Plectranthus, with some 72 species, is a genus of herbaceous perennial plants, rarely annuals or soft-wooded shrubs, sometimes succulent; sometimes with a tuberous base. Common names include spur-flower. Plectranthus species are found in Southern and Tropical Africa and Madagascar, and one in Sri Lanka.
Plectranthus verticillatus, Swedish ivy, Swedish begonia or whorled plectranthus is a plant in the family Lamiaceae (Labiatae), genus Plectranthus. Despite its common name, it is not close to the ivy family of the genus Hedera.
Coleus barbatus, also known by the synonyms Plectranthus barbatus and incorrectly Coleus forskalaei, is a tropical perennial plant related to the typical coleus species. It produces forskolin, an extract useful for pharmaceutical preparations and research in cell biology.
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 australis, synonyms Plectranthus australis and Plectranthus parviflorus, known as little spurflower or cockspur flower, is a shrub, occurring in Hawaii, Polynesia and Australia. Non aromatic, between 10 and 70 cm high. The habitat is shady moist areas, including eucalyptus forest and rainforest. A widespread species, in rocky areas and beside streams. Attractive blue and white flowers may occur throughout the year.
Coleus is a genus of annual or perennial herbs or shrubs, sometimes succulent, sometimes with a fleshy or tuberous rootstock, found in the Old World tropics and subtropics. The relationship among the genera Coleus, Solenostemon and Plectranthus has been confused. Coleus and Solenostemon were sunk into Plectranthus, but recent phylogenetic analysis found Plectranthus to be paraphyletic with respect to other related genera in the subtribe Plectranthinae. The most recent taxonomic treatment of the genus resurrected Coleus, and 212 names were changed from combinations in Plectranthus, Pycnostachys and Anisochilus. Equilabium was segregated from Plectranthus, after phylogenetic studies supported its recognition as a phylogenetically distinct genus.
Plectranthus fruticosus, the forest spurflower, is a species of flowering plant in the mint family Lamiaceae, native to South Africa. Growing up to 2 m (6.6 ft) tall, it is an erect evergreen shrub, with rounded, hairy leaves, and spikes of soft blue or mauve flowers in summer.
Plectranthus oertendahlii is a species of flowering plant in the sage and mint family, Lamiaceae. Common names include silverleaf spurflower, Swedish ivy, Oertendahl's spurflower, November lights, and Brazilian coleus though it is native to eastern South Africa rather than Brazil. Plectranthus oertendahlii and the cultivar ‘Uvongo’ have gained the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit.
Coleus comosus, synonym Plectranthus ornatus, is a flowering plant from the mint family Lamiaceae, native to eastern Africa.
Plectranthus ecklonii is a shrub from the mint family Lamiaceae, native to South Africa. The habitat includes forest or shaded situations near the coast.
Plectranthus strigosus is a shrub from the mint family Lamiaceae, native to South Africa. The habitat includes moist forest or gully situations.
Plectranthus ciliatus, called Indian borage, speckled spur flower, blue spur flower, and candlestick plant, is a species of flowering plant in the family Lamiaceae. It is native to South Africa and Swaziland, and introduced to Victoria in Australia and the North and South Islands of New Zealand. With its Coleus‑like foliage, its cultivar 'Easy Gold' has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit as an ornamental.
Plectranthus madagascariensis, called thicket coleus, Madagascar coleus and candle plant, is a species of flowering plant in the family Lamiaceae. It is native to South Africa, eSwatini, Mozambique, Mauritius and Réunion, but not Madagascar. Its cultivar 'Variegated Mintleaf' has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.
Plectranthus ambiguus, the pincushion spurflower, is a species of flowering plant in the family Lamiaceae, native to South Africa. Its cultivar 'Manguzuku' has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.
Plectranthus purpuratus, called purple Swedish ivy and Vick's plant, is a species of flowering plant in the family Lamiaceae, native to South Africa and eSwatini. It has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.
Deer Reserve National Park is a nature reserve in the Somerset Region of Queensland, in the South East Queensland bioregion. The name "Deer Reserve" refers to a gift of red deer to the Cressbrook Station. Plants protected in Deer Reserve National Park and the adjoining Deer Reserve State Forest include Plectranthus leiperi.
