Entry From
Flora of South Africa, (2003) Author: Dr J.P. Roux
Common names
Ocimum verticillatum L. f., Suppl. 276 (1781), as "Ocymum"; Willd., Sp. PI. 3: 163 (1800). P. thunbergii Benth., Lab. 37 (1832); in E. Mey., Comm. 229 (1837); Drege, Zwei Pfl. Doc. 125, 147 (1843); Benth. in DC, Prodr. 12: 67 (1848); Schinz in Mem. Herb. Boissier 10: 60 (1895); Cooke in F.C. 5,1: 280 (1910); Codd in Mitt. bot. StSamml., Munch. 10: 247 (1971); nom. illegit. Type: as above. O. racemosum Thunb., Prodr. 2: 96 (1800), as "Ocymum"; Fl. Cap. edn Schult. 448 (1812). Type: Cape, "Houteniquas", Thunberg s.n. (UPS, holo.!; SBT!). P. nummularius Briq. in Bull. Herb. Boissier ser. 2, 3: 1072 (1903); Cooke, I.e. 284 (1910), partly; Letty, Wild Flow. Transv. 289, t.144: 2 (1962); Compton, Check-list Fl. Swaziland 67, 158 (1966); Codd, I.e. 247 (1971); Ross, I.e. 305 (1972). Type: Natal, Camper-down, Rehmann 7702 (Z, holo.!).
Habitat
There is a good deal of variation in leaf shape and pubescence and in flower colour but it has not been possible to subdivide the material into meaningful infraspecific groups. The typical form of the eastern Cape has small ovate leaves, somewhat cuneate at the base with crenate-dentate margins, and the flowers are whitish with a few pale mauve markings on the upper lip. This grades into the Natal and Transvaal form in which the leaves are somewhat larger, glabrous or pubescent and rounded with shallowly crenate margins, and the flowers are slightly larger with freely speckled corolla. Some forms of the latter are often cultivated as ground covers or pot plants. The typification of P. verticillatus is discussed in Bothalia 11: 408 (1975).
Use
22. Plectranthus verticillatus (L.f.) Druce in Rep. botl Soc. Exch. Club Br. Isl. 1916: 640 (1917); Ross, Fl. Natal 305 (1972); Codd in Bothalia 11: 407 (1975); Compton, Fl. Swaziland 504 (1976). Type: erroneously recorded as coming from India but probably a Thunberg specimen from the Cape (LINN 749.4, iso.).
Range
Distributed from about Knysna through the semi-coastal parts of the eastern Cape Province, Transkei and Natal to Swaziland, eastern and northern Transvaal; also in southern Mozambique. Usually in fairly moist, stony places in forest margins, scrub forest and dry woodland. Map 84.