Entry for Plectranthus oribiensis [family LAMIACEAE]
Herbarium
South African National Biodiversity Institute, Compton Herbarium, Cape Town (SAM)
Collection
Flora of Southern Africa
Resource Type
Reference Sources
Entry From
Flora of South Africa, (2003) Author: Dr J.P. Roux
Names
Plectranthus oribiensis [family LAMIACEAE]
Information
Herb or soft shrub up to 1,5 m tall, erect, branched; roots tuberous; stems ascending, shortly and densely pubescent. Leaves petiolate; blade ovate-orbicular, 50-100 x 50-90 mm, densely tomentose, under-surface reticulate-veined with whitish gland-dots, apex obtuse, base cordate, margin crenate-dentate; petiole 40—70 mm long. Inflorescence usually with 1 or 2 pairs of branches near the base, racemes up to 200 mm long; flowers in sessile 3—5-flowered cymes forming 6—10-flowered verticils 10—25 mm apart. Calyx 6-7 mm long in fruiting stage, purple-tinged, glandular-hispid. Corolla mauve, not speckÂled, villous and dotted with white gland-dots on the back, 10-12 mm long; tube deflexed, expanding and spurred near the base, narrowing slightly towards the throat; upper lip 5-6 mm long; lower lip boat-shaped, 5—7 mm long, later deflexed. Stamens free, 2—3 mm long.
Habitat
The species was first collected by Mr H. B. Nicholson in 1971 and 1972. The corolla resembles that of P. fruticosus (above) in colour but lacks the purple spots on the upper lip. From P. fruticosus and P. graliatus (below) it differs in the villous, gland-dotted corolla and the cordate-based leaves, distinctly tomentose on the under-surface with colourless gland-dots.
Use
31. Plectranthus oribiensis Codd in Flower. PL Afr. 46: t.1809 (1980). Type: Natal, Oribi Gorge, Van Jaarsveld 2198 (PRE, holo.!).
Range
Known only from Oribi Gorge and Umtamvuna River in southern Natal; at forest margins and in wooded kloofs. Map 90.
