Plectranthus verticillatus (L.f.) Druce APNI* 
Description: Prostrate, creeping, and matt-forming semi-succulent herb rising off the ground by 0.25 m. Pleasantly aromatic when crushed. Branches subglabrous, strigulose consisting of short antrorse hairs (longer and in tufts at nodes), red multicellular sessile glands present.
Leaves discolorous, softly to distinctly succulent; petiole 6–30 mm long; lamina ovate to rotund, 16–40 mm long, 12–40 mm wide, apex acute to rounded, base truncate to cuneate, margin crenate-dentate to shallowly dentate with 3–6 pairs of teeth, upper and lower surface subglabrous to strigulose, hairs more dense below on veins; lower lamina surface densely covered by red to brownish multicellular sessile glands.
Inflorescence 40–220 mm long, a racemose branch, sometimes with 1 pair of branches at the base; verticillasters 2–6-flowered. Pedicel 3–5 mm long. Calyx c 2.5 mm long. Corolla white to pale mauve with a few mauve spots on the upper lip or densely speckled with purplish spots, pubescent, scattered with red multicellular sessile glands, to c. 14 mm long, tube 4–6 mm long, expanding and slightly deflexed at or near the base forming a swollen to slightly saccate base 1.75–2 mm deep, scarcely narrowing to the throat. Stamen with upper pair c 5 mm long, lower pair 6–8 mm long. Style approximately as long as lower stamen.
Fruiting calyx accrescent, to c. 7 mm long.
Flowering: throughout year.
Distribution and occurrence: Naturalised mostly on the eastern NSW coastal botanical districts, and in Queensland, considered already a minor weed. Native to southeastern Africa. In its native range it occurs in forest margins, scrub forest dry woodland and semi-shaded rocky areas.
NSW subdivisions: *NC, *CC, *SC
Text by T.C.Wilson (April 2026)
Taxon concept: Codd (1975)
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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