Home | > | List of families | > | Lamiaceae | > | Plectranthus | > | porphyranthus |
Synonyms: | |
Common names: | |
Frequency: | Local |
Status: | |
Description: |
Perennial semi-succulent aromatic herb. Stems procumbent to somewhat scrambling, quadrangular, densely hairy. Leaves softly fleshy, opposite, ovate to triangular-ovate, up to 5.5 × 3.5 cm, shortly hairy above and densely woolly beneath; margin rolled under in young leaves, less so with age, coarsely dentate with 3-6 pairs of triangular teeth; petiole (1-4 cm long, densely hairy. Inflorescence terminal, 10-40 cm long, often with 2 basal branches; verticils usually 10-flowered, 1-3 cm apart; bracts very broadly ovate, 2-6 mm long. Calyx 3 mm long enlarging to 6 mm in fruit, purple-tinged; upper lip broadly ovate; lower lip 4-toothed. Corolla 2-lipped, intense violet with pale markings on the throat and upper lobes; tube c. 5 mm, markedly deflexed, sparingly hairy; upper lip 2-lobed, erect; lower lip boat-shaped, 3-4.5 mm long. |
Notes: | This species differs in lacking the sessile, orange or reddish glands which occur on the calyx, lower leaf and bract surfaces of closely related species (sect. Coleoides) in the region. |
Derivation of specific name: | |
Habitat: | In shallow soil pockets and crevices on granite whalebacks. |
Altitude range: (metres) | 1050 - 1450 m |
Flowering time: | Dec - Mar |
Worldwide distribution: | Southern Zimbabwe. |
Zimbabwe distribution: | W,S |
Growth form(s): | |
Endemic status: | Endemic |
Red data list status: | Lower Risk - least concern |
Insects associated with this species: | |
Spot characters: | Display spot characters for this species |
Images last updated: | Tuesday 14 September 2021 |
Literature: |
Edwards, T.J., Paton, A. & Crouch, N.R. (2000). A new species of Plectranthus (Lamiaceae) from Zimbabwe Kew Bulletin 55(2) Pages 459 - 464. (Includes a picture). Golding, J.S. (ed.) (2002). Zimbabwe Plant Red Data List. Southern African Plant Red Data Lists. SABONET 14 Page 174. Mapaura, A. (2002). Endemic Plant Species of Zimbabwe. Kirkia 18(1) Page 143. Mapaura, A. & Timberlake, J. (eds) (2004). A checklist of Zimbabwean vascular plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 33 Sabonet, Pretoria and Harare Page 56. Paton, A.J. et al. (2013). Lamiaceae Flora Zambesiaca 8(8) Pages 248 - 249. |
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