Coleus esculentus var. esculentus

Description.

Paton et al. (2009: 291), Paton et al. (2013: 240), as Plectranthus esculentus N. E. Br.

Distribution.

Tropical and South Africa.

Habitat and ecology.

Degraded miombo woodland, fallow fields, savannah, 300–2285 m elev.

Additional specimens.

DR. Congo, Bas-Congo, Kinwanda, près de Tumba Mani, 23 Aug 1902, A. Cabra & F. L. Michel 38 (BR); Kisantu, Feb 1913, J. Gillet s. n. (BR); Sundi Lutete, 10 Aug 1967, I. Persson 124 (BR); Kasaï, Kwango, Kahemba, 24 Jul 1955, R. Devred 2333 (BR); Env. Luluabourg [Kananga], 1910, A. Sparrano 27 (BR); Lacs Edouard et Kivu, Kaziba, 26 Sep 1952, J. F. Laurent 574 (BR); Haut-Katanga, Marungu, Kalewe, Apr 1944, L. Dubois 1200 (BR); 30 km W de Mutshatsha, 28 Aug 1956, P. Duvigneaud & J. Timperman 2530 Co 1 (BRLU); Marungu, Kasiki, Nov 1945, P. Quarré 7363 (BR); Entre Masombwe et Lusinga, 21 Sep 1948, W. Robyns 3643 (BR); Lubumbashi, 1937, Salésiens 466 (BR, WAG). Burundi, Gitega, Bufundu, A. Becquet 766 (BR); Kumuyange, 26 Sep 1971, J. Lewalle 6132 (BR); Ruvironza, 15 Jul 1958, G. Michel 5540 (BR); Mosso, Ruyigi, abords de Kinyinya, 13 Aug 1951, G. Michel & J. Reed 85 (BR).

Notes.

1. Occasionally cultivated for its edible tubers; in Marungu known as “ mizumbu ” and, in Burundi, as “ impombo ” (kinyarwanda) or “ inumbu ” (kirundi).

2. Var. esculentus is quite variable in the length of the pedicel and the internodes of the thyrse; some specimens are more or less intermediate between var. esculentus and var. densus (e. g. P. Quarré 7085 (BR), J. Rammeloo 4690 [BR]).