Plectranthus scutellarioides
Content
Description
Erect or ascending branched herb, 0.5-1.5 m, aromatic, without tubers.
Leaves membranaceous, very variable in size, shape and colour, generally ovate in outline, blade 1-15 (usually 4-7) by 1-10 (usually 3-5) cm, acute or acuminate, base rounded or cuneate, entire, margin elsewhere crenate, serrate, remotely crenate or sometimes laciniate, pubescent on the main and secondary veins;
Flowers in verticillasters or in irregularly branched cymes disposed in simple or branched thyrses 5-10(-25) cm long, 3-5(-8) cm Ø;
Stamens in 2 pairs;
Distribution
Asia-Tropical: India present; Thailand (Thailand present), Australasia, Burma present, Continental SE. Asia present, Melanesia present, Polynesia present, S. China present, Solomons present, Southern America: Argentina Northeast (Formosa present)
Continental SE. Asia (India, Burma, Thailand, Indo-China, S. China), Formosa, throughout Malesia to Australia, Melanesia (Solomons) and Polynesia. In Malesia also frequently cultivated for ornamental purpose and here and there subspontaneous.
Taxonomy
Recently LAUNERT () dropped the Linnean basionym and coined a new combination for the Malesian plant, without giving evidence in what respect P. blumei differs from P. scutellarioides.
Uses
Except cultivation for ornamental purpose this species is also assumed to have medicinal use. BURKILL () says it is employed for dyspepsia and ophthalmia. In Java and Sumatra it is used as an abortivum and also as a repellent for intestinal worms. In the Philippines sometimes used for head-aches and bruises. In Java many minor uses, see .
Notes
From the complicated synonymy it is already clear that this is a common variable species. In the precursor I distinguished four varieties, mostly based on formerly described species. But as more specimens were available it became clear that they are connected by too many intermediate specimens. Leaf-colour, -size and -shape vary enormously, especially in cultivation. Thus I agree with BACKER, who also took (1965) a broad view of its delimitation. Some forms — often in cultivation — with laciniate leaves, the main characters for distinguishing P. laciniatus Bl. = Coleus laciniatus (Bl.) BTH., are genetically apparently based on minor differences. KUSWATA (unpubl.) could raise from seed of a form with shallowly dentate leaf margin and regular venation another form with laciniate leaves and irregular venation. RIFE () has shown that the laciniate form differs in only a single gene from that with the normal leaf shape. Also the flower colour is variable.
In New Guinea this common species is very variable: BW 14029, from Anggi Gita Lake, Arfak (vern. armessèssa, Manikiong lang.) and LAE 54026, from Mt Suckling, have very small and narrow leaves, 10-20 by 4-7 mm; in KOSTERMANS 567 from Baliem Valley, leaves and stems are densely tomentose; in NGF 21345 from Finisterre Mts (vern. mowdarapo, Sewe), calyx and corolla are unusually large; in ROBBINS 1022 and ANU 5822, from Kainantu, leaves are thick and densely hairy; NGF 38843 has hairy leaves; BRASS 22157 from Milne Bay Distr., has unusually narrow, lanceolate, hairy leaves.
In New Guinea this common species is very variable: BW 14029, from Anggi Gita Lake, Arfak (vern. armessèssa, Manikiong lang.) and LAE 54026, from Mt Suckling, have very small and narrow leaves, 10-20 by 4-7 mm; in KOSTERMANS 567 from Baliem Valley, leaves and stems are densely tomentose; in NGF 21345 from Finisterre Mts (vern. mowdarapo, Sewe), calyx and corolla are unusually large; in ROBBINS 1022 and ANU 5822, from Kainantu, leaves are thick and densely hairy; NGF 38843 has hairy leaves; BRASS 22157 from Milne Bay Distr., has unusually narrow, lanceolate, hairy leaves.
Citation
Merr. 1923 – In: En. Philip.: 419
BURM.f. 1768: Fl. Ind.: 130
Koord. 1912 – In: Exk. Fl. Java: 156
WALP. NOV. 1843 – In: Act. Ac. Caes. Leop.-Car.: Suppl. 1, 373
DECNE 1834 – In: Nouv. Ann. Mus. Hist. Nat. Paris: 398
Miq. 1858 – In: Fl. Ind. Bat.: 952
BTH. 1886: Rev. Pl. Vasc. Filip.: 213
ALSTON 1931 – In: Trimen, Handb. Fl. Ceyl. 6: Suppl. 236
BTH. 1848 – In: DC., Prod. 12: 75
Merr. 1923 – In: En. Philip.: 418
F.-VILL. 1880: Nov. App.: 163
Miq. 1858 – In: Fl. Ind. Bat.: 949
Merr. 1923 – In: En. Philip.: 419
BTH. 1918: Sp. Blanc.: 339
BRUGGEMAN 1939: Ind. Tuinboek: 111
MOR. 1846: Syst. Verz.: 54
BURK. 1935: Dict.: 635
QUIS. 1951: Medic. Pl. Philip.: 815
MUKERJEE 1940 – In: Rec. Bot. Surv. India: 56
BACK. & BAKH.f. 1965 – In: Fl. Java: 637
Merr. 1923 – In: En. Philip.: 418
BTH. 1832: Lab. Gen. Sp.: 54
Miq. 1858 – In: Fl. Ind. Bat.: 951
Miq. 1858 – In: Fl. Ind. Bat.: 950
SPANOGHE 1841 – In: Linnaea: 333
Koord. 1912 – In: Exk. Fl. Java: 156
PRAIN 1907 – In: J. As. Soc. Beng.: 706
BTH. 1848 – In: DC., Prod. 12: 73
F.-VILL. 1880: Nov. App.: 163
BTH. 1845 – In: Repert.: 517
BTH. 1848 – In: DC., Prod. 12: 74
BTH. 1835: Herb. Timor. Descr.: 70
BTH. 1917: Int. Rumph.: 460
BTH. 1848 – In: DC., Prod. 12: 76
Merr. 1912: Fl. Manila: 410
Merr. 1923 – In: En. Philip.: 419
Merr. 1917: Int. Rumph.: 460
BTH. 1848 – In: DC., Prod. 12: 78
Miq. 1858 – In: Fl. Ind. Bat.: 952
BACK. & BAKH.f 1965 – In: FL Java: 637
BURK. 1935: Dict.: 635
BTH. 1848 – In: DC., Prod. 12: 73
F.-VILL. 1880: Nov. App.: 163
Koord. 1918 – In: Fl. Tjibodas: fam. 254, p. 93
K.SCH. & LAUT. 1900: Fl. Schutzgeb.: 528
Ridl. 1923 – In: Fl. Mai. Pen.: 646
Merr. 1923 – In: En. Philip.: 420
STEEN. 1934 – In: Bull. Jard. Bot. Btzg: 288
BTH. 1848 – In: DC., Prod. 12: 73
Ridl. 1923 – In: Fl. Mai. Pen.: 646
BARTLETT 1926 – In: Pap. Mich. Ac. Sc.: 59
BTH. 1848 – In: DC., Prod. 12: 75
BLANCO 1918: Sp. Blanc.: 339
DOAN 1936 – In: Fl. Gén. I.-C.: 950
STAPF in Curtis 1924 – In: Bot. Mag.: t. 9034
Merr. 1912: Fl. Manila: 410
F.-VILL. 1880: Nov. App.: 163
F.-VILL. 1880: Nov. App.: 163
Koord. 1912 – In: Exk. Fl. Java: 156
BTH. 1860: Sum.: 571
BTH. 1848 – In: DC., Prod. 12: 75
HATUS. 1966 – In: Mem. Fac. Agr. Kagoshima Un.: 48
BTH. 1923 – In: En. Philip.: 419
Merr. 1923 – In: En. Philip.: 419
Koord. 1912 – In: Exk. Fl. Java: 156
KUDO 1929 – In: Mem. Fac. Sc. & Agr. Taihoku Un.: 145
Miq. 1858 – In: Fl. Ind. Bat.: 956
HASSK. 1844: Cat. Hort. Bog.: 129
Merr. 1923 – In: En. Philip.: 420
BTH. 1835: Herb. Timor. Descr.: 70
QUIS. 1951: Medic. Pl. Philip.: 815
Bl. 1826: Bijdr.: 837
Miq. 1858 – In: Fl. Ind. Bat.: 951
KENG 1969: p. 51. – In: Gard. Bull. Sing.: f. 9
cf. STEEN. 1934 – In: Bull. Jard. Bot. Btzg.: 288
HUNTER 1909 – In: J. Str. Br. R. As. Soc.: 100
F.-VILL. 1880: Nov. App.: 163
BLANCO 1845: Fl. Filip., ed. 2: 336
Koord. 1912 – In: Exk. Fl. Java: 157
BACK. 1931: Onkr. Suiker.: 569
DECNE 1834 – In: Nouv. Ann. Mus. Hist. Nat. Paris: 398
BLANCO 1878 – In: Fl. Filip., ed. 3: 257
BTH. 1950: p. 396. – In: Mai. Nat. J.: f. 366
HASSK. 1844: Cat. Hort. Bog.: 129
HEND. 1939 – In: J. Mai. Br. R. As. Soc.: 65
VIDAL 1885: Phan. Cuming. Philip.: 135
BTH. 1848 – In: DC., Prod. 12: 73
HASSK. 1844: Cat. Hort. Bog.: 129
BTH. 1832: Lab. Gen. Sp.: 53
BLANCO 1845: Fl. Filip., ed. 2: 336
BLANCO 1923 – In: En. Philip.: 420
Merr. 1923 – In: En. Philip.: 420
BLANCO 1878: p. 258. – In: Fl. Filip., ed. 3: t. 208
ADAMS 1972: Fl. Jamaica: 645