Coleus
Plectranthus
Along a shady trail in Mt. Kenya Forest, Kirinyaga, Kenya, Africa. 2 June 2017.
LEAVES: The opposite leaves are oval to broadly elliptic and have
crenate margins. Leaves are soft
hairy. Strongly aromatic. Some cultivated varieties have leaves with variegated color patterns.
SHRUBBY: Primarily herbaceous with perhaps a bit of woody base.
Plants were mostly less than 1 meter tall.
FLOWERS: The flowers are arranged in short spikes at the ends of branches. Colors are purple, pale lavender and white.
RANGE: One of many species of Plectranthus recorded in Kenya.
Grazing cattle and goats avoid eating these plants.
FRUIT: Five sepals enclose the developing seed capsules.
UNARMED.