Coleus scaber (Benth.) A.J.Paton

Suddee, S. & Paton, A. 2009. A revision of Anisochilus Wall. ex Benth. (Lamiaceae). Kew Bulletin 64: 235. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12225-009-9115-5

Conservation

Vajravelu (1990) reports the species as common in Palghat District, Kerala whereas Mohanan & Sivadasan (2002) report the species as rare in SW Ghats. However, few collections have been seen by us. Many more may well exist in regional herbaria.

Distribution

India (Deccan Peninsula).

Ecology

On exposed rocks; alt. 300 – 1000 m. Flowering & fruiting September – February.

Morphology General Habit

Erect or ascending annual or short-lived perennial herb, sometimes rooting at nodes, up to 0.5 m tall

Morphology Leaves

Leaves petiolate, opposite decussate, ovate, orbicular, orbicular-obovate or obovate, 20 – 50 × 10 – 35 mm, apex acute or rounded, base rounded or obtuse, margin crenate, fleshy, scabrous-pubescent above, densely hoary tomentose with secondary veins and tertiary reticulate venation prominent, with red sessile glands beneath, lateral veins 4 – 6; petiole slender, up to 20 mm long, pubescent

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx ovoid, 2 – 3 mm long at anthesis, densely villous; fruiting calyx 5 – 6 mm long; posterior lip 1-lobed, ovate, deflexed after anthesis and concealing throat, prominently reticulate, glabrous or sparsely pubescent, margin ciliate; anterior lip truncate or obscurely toothed; tube ventrally saccate around the middle, constricted at throat, purplish-brown villous

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla white or purplish-white, 10 – 12 mm long, pubescent with spare red sessile glands

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Nutlets dark brown, ovoid or ellipsoid, 0.6 – 0.7 mm in diameter

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence terminal, mostly simple, occasionally branched; spike-like head ovoid to ovoid-cylindric in bud and fruit, 10 – 45 × 10 – 12 mm, purplish when dry; peduncles long and slender, (5) 150 – 250 mm long, puberulous; bracts ovate, minute, pubescent

Morphology Stem

Stems round-quadrangular, glabrescent to pubescent, with red sessile glands, old stem glabrous

Note

Close to Anisochilus wightii as both have similar leaf characters and have fruiting calyx with dark colour when dry but differs in having larger fruiting calyx posterior lip.

Type

India, Deccan Peninsula, Courtallum, Herb. Wight 2520 [holotype K! (Herb. Benthamianum); isotypes E, K!].