7350.000 Plectranthus L'Hér.

Annual or perennial herbs or subshrubs. Stems herbaceous or woody below, sometimes succulent. Inflorescence paniculate, racemose or subspicate, usually terminal. Flowers in whorls, few-flowered cymes or dichasia, occasionally solitary. Bracts small, clearly differentiated from the leaves. Calyx 2-lipped (the upper lip consisting of a large single tooth, the lower lip of 4 lanceolate-triangular or subulate teeth) or subequally 5-toothed. Corolla 2-lipped, tube usually bent and expanded near the base; upper lip usually 4-lobed, shorter than the boat-shaped lower lip. Stamens 4; filaments free or united at base. Stigma shortly 2-lobed. Nutlets smooth.

Comment: Recent phylogenetic studies have resulted in a considerable reduction in the number of species in the genus Plectranthus. Many species have now been (re)assigned to the revived genus Coleus or to the newly described genus Equilabium.

Worldwide: c. 300 species from tropical and warm parts of the Old World

Malawi: 4 taxa.