Plectranthus esculentus
Lamiaceae FAMILY

Plectranthus esculentus

Plectranthus esculentus

Edibility
3/5
Medicinal
3/5

Safety & Hazards

None known

Botanical Description

Plectranthus esculentus is an erect, herbaceous perennial plant growing around 1 metre tall[ 1355 Title Plants of the World online Publication Author Website http://powo.science.kew.org/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description An on-line database giving detailed descriptions of almost 40,000 species of plants (as of 2018), almost 25,000 images and a list of almost 850,000 plant names. A truly excellent resource and still growing. ]. The plant occasionally produces bulbils in the leaf axils[ 1355 Title Plants of the World online Publication Author Website http://powo.science.kew.org/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description An on-line database giving detailed descriptions of almost 40,000 species of plants (as of 2018), almost 25,000 images and a list of almost 850,000 plant names. A truly excellent resource and still growing. ]. The plant is cultivated in some parts of tropical Africa for its edible tubers[ 300 Title Vegetables in the Tropics Publication Author Tindall. H. D. Publisher MacMillan, Oxford. Year 1983 ISBN 0-333-24268-8 Description An excellent, in-depth look at the main vegetable crops that can be grown in the Tropics, plus many less well-known plants. ]. It is sometimes grown as an ornamental in S. Africa[ 1347 Title Plectranthus: A plant for the future? Publication South African Journal of Botany 77 (2011) 947-959 Author Rice L.J.; Brits G.J.; Potgieter C.J.; Van Staden J. Publisher Year 2011 ISBN Description A review of the Plectranthus species with potential as economic plants ].

Habitat & Origin

Origintropical
Native RangeTropical Africa - Nigeria to the Central African Republic and DR Congo, south to Angola, Botswana, Swaziland, Tanzania and Mozambique..
HabitatDry slopes[ 254 Title The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants Publication Author Chevallier. A. Publisher Dorling Kindersley. London Year 1996 ISBN 9-780751-303148 Description An excellent guide to over 500 of the more well known medicinal herbs from around the world. ].