Species
Plectranthus ciliatus
Etymology
Plectranthus: From the Greek plektron (spur) and anthos (flower), referring to the spurred flowers
Common Name(s)
Plectranthus
Authority
Plectranthus ciliatus E.Mey.
Family
Lamiaceae
Flora Category
Vascular - Exotic
PLECIL
The
National Vegetation Survey (NVS) Databank is a physical archive and electronic databank containing records of over 94,000 vegetation survey plots - including data from over 19,000 permanent plots. NVS maintains a standard set of species code abbreviations that correspond to standard scientific plant names from the Ngä Tipu o Aotearoa - New Zealand Plants database.
Structural Class
Dicotyledonous Herbs other than Composites
Habitat
Terrestrial. A plant that grows in the shade (Forester pers. comm. 1996). Likes some shade and well-drained soils (Anon., 1997: Pestfacts 48, ARC). A plant of forested stream banks (Forester pers. comm. 1996). Shady areas in and around forest margins, plantations, hedges, disturbed or low forest (Webb et al., 1988).
Features
Herb or subshrub with stems trailing or straggling and densely covered in purple hairs; leaves 5-12 x 3.5-7cm, broad-ovate, shining, purple below, hairy; flowers along stalks up to 30cm long, sometimes with short lateral branches at base; flowers white with purple dots inside; nutlets about 1.5mm diameter, dark brown (Webb et al., 1988).
Similar Taxa
Leaves are dotted with glands and have a strong, pungent smell.
Flowering
December, January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August
Flower Colours
Violet / Purple,White
Year Naturalised
1975
Origin
E and S Africa
Reason For Introduction
Ornamental
Life Cycle Comments
Perennial
Reproduction
A plant that rampantly grows vegetatively. Spreads vegetatively by runners.
Seed
Produces seed.
Dispersal
Seed are not adapted for bird, wind or water dispersal therefore are only a minor factor in its spread.
Tolerances
Resistant to frost (if growing under trees).
This page last updated on 24 Apr 2010