Coleus caninus (Roth) Vatke APNI* Synonyms: Plectranthus caninus Roth APNI*
Coleus spicatus Benth. APNI*
Description: Erect to semi-erect, open branched semi-succulent herb to 0.4 m tall. Somewhat unpleasant scent released when touched or crushed. Branches villous with short and long hairs and orange or red sessile multicellular glands. Does not form a distinctive tuber.
Leaves concolorous, slightly fleshy; petiole 4–20 mm long; lamina narrow-obovate to obovate or longelliptic or narrow ovate, 30–55 mm long, 25–35 mm wide, apex acute to obtuse, base cuneate, margin subentire to obscurely crenate-dentate with 4–7 pairs of teeth, upper and lower surface sparingly hispidulous with non-glandular hairs, sessile multicellular glands and often glandular hairs.
Inflorescence 25–60(–90) mm long, consisting of up to 3 racemose branches, verticillasters 6–8-flowered. Pedicel 2–2.5 mm long. Calyx c. 2 mm long. Corolla blue-purple, 8–10 mm long. Stamen and style 5–6 mm long.
Fruiting calyx accrescent, c. 5 mm long.
Flowering: throughout the year.
Distribution and occurrence: Commonly cultivated in Australia but unconfirmed as to whether naturalised in the Sydney district. A plant of semi-desert areas, its native distribution is from India, Ethiopia southwards through tropical East Africa to Rhodesia, Zambia and northern South West Africa.
NSW subdivisions: *SC
T.C.Wilson (April 2026)
Text by Paton A.J. (2019) Nomenclatural changes in Coleus and Plectranthus(Lamiaceae): a tale of more than two genera. PhytoKeys 129:1–158.
Taxon concept:
APNI* Provides a link to the Australian Plant Name Index (hosted by the Australian National Botanic Gardens) for comprehensive bibliographic data
***The AVH map option provides a detailed interactive Australia wide distribution map drawn from collections held by all major Australian herbaria participating in the Australian Virtual Herbarium project.
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