Synonyms: |
Plectranthus sigmoideus A.J. Paton |
Common names: | |
Frequency: | |
Status: | Native |
Description: |
Perennial herb 20-40 cm high, with mostly unbranched, hairy stems growing from an ovoid to cylindrical tuber. Leaves sometimes concentrated towards the base of the plant, ovate, 15-40 mm long, sparsely hairy and with reddish glands; margin deeply and sometimes coarsely toothed; petiole 1-10 mm long. Inflorescence lax with 10-15-flowered clusters up to 25 mm apart; bracts cup-shaped, up to 10 mm long but only in very young inflorescences and falling quickly; pedicels 5-10 mm long. Calyx up to 6 mm long in fruit, glandular pubescent; upper lip elliptic to obovate, curving upwards; lower lip with median lobes 4-5 mm long with teeth 1 mm long. Corolla white to pale blueish-purple, 8-15 mm long, pubescent with redd sessile glands; tube s-shaped; upper lip erect, shorter than lower lip; lower lip 3-8 mm long, deeply boatshaped, enclosing the stamens. |
Type location: |
Zambia |
Notes: | Plants on the Nyika Plateau tend to have larger and broader leaves than other populations. |
Derivation of specific name: | sigmoideus: S-shaped, referring to the shape of the flower tube. |
Habitat: | In grassland and woodland. |
Altitude range: (metres) | 1200 - 2300 m |
Flowering time: | |
Worldwide distribution: | DRC, southern Tanzania, Malawi and Zambia. |
FZ divisions: | N |
Growth form(s): | |
Endemic status: | |
Red data list status: | |
Insects associated with this species: | |
Spot characters: | Display spot characters for this species |
Images last updated: | Wednesday 2 October 2019 |
Literature: |
Paton, A.J. et al. (2013). Lamiaceae Flora Zambesiaca 8(8) Pages 270 - 271. as Plectranthus sigmoideus (Includes a picture). |