Plectranthus is a genus of about 85 species of flowering plants from the mint/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.
Several species are grown as ornamental plants. The cultivar Mona Lavender = 'Plepalila' has received the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.
Recent phylogenetic analysis found Plectranthus to be paraphyletic with respect to Coleus, Solenostemon, Pycnostachys and Anisochilus. The most recent treatment of the genus resurrected the genus 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.
Etymology
The word plectranthus derives from the Greek πλῆκτρον (plēktron), "anything to strike with, an instrument for striking the lyre, a spear point" + ἄνθος (anthos), "blossom, flower".
Species
Plectranthus verticillatus in cultivation
Plectranthus ecklonii in cultivation
Plectranthus'Cerveza'n Lime' in cultivation
Paton et al. (2019) listed 72 species. As of October 2022, Plants of the World Online accepted 84:
Plectranthus alboviolaceus Gürke – South Africa: E. Cape Prov. to N. KwaZulu-Natal
Plectranthus ambiguus (Bolus) Codd – South Africa: E. Cape Prov. to N. KwaZulu-Natal
Plectranthus amplexicaulis Hedge – Madagascar
Plectranthus antongilicus Hedge – Madagascar
Plectranthus asymmetricus A.J.Paton – Zambia
Plectranthus atroviolaceus Hedge – Madagascar
Plectranthus aulihanensis (Schweinf. & Volkens) ined.
Plectranthus betamponus Hedge – Madagascar
Plectranthus bracteolatus A.J.Paton – Tanzania
Plectranthus brevicaulis (Baker) Hedge – Madagascar
Plectranthus brevimentus T.J.Edwards (also as...
