forskohlii

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• forskohlii
• Abyssinian Coleus
• Bearded Hullwort
• Bearded Spurflower
• Woolly Plectranthus
• Indian Coleus

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Plectranthus barbatus

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it falls under the order Lamiales and the family Lamiaceae. Finally, it is categorized under the genus Coleus as Coleus barbatus.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a wide-ranging geographical distribution across several distinct tropical and subtropical regions. In the Macaronesian islands, its presence can be specifically noted in Madeira. Moving to West-Central Tropical Africa, it is found within the borders of Burundi and Rwanda. The species also extends its reach into the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Finally, its range stretches toward Northeast Tropical Africa, where it is documented in Eritrea.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Coleus barbautus is characterized by its adaptation to lowland habitats, where it thrives across a broad altitudinal spectrum. The species is found at varying heights, with its distribution beginning at a minimum elevation of 213 m AMSL and extending up to a maximum elevation of 2300 m AMSL. This wide elevational range suggests a high degree of environmental plasticity, allowing the plant to occupy diverse ecological niches within lowland landscapes.

Elevational range max:

2300 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

213 m AMSL

Habitat :

Lowland

Life history

The life history of Coleus barbaatus is characterized by a versatile growth strategy, functioning primarily as a perennial plant with a lifecycle that can be categorized as variable depending on environmental conditions. In terms of its structural development and survival strategy, it exhibits different life forms, transitioning between being a phanerophyte, where its stems are elevated above the ground, and a chamaephyte, where the buds remain close to the soil surface. Its deciduousness is also variable, meaning the plant may shed its foliage or remain green depending on the specific climatic stressors and seasonal cycles it encounters.

Deciduousness :

variable

Life form :

chamaephyte

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Coleus barbatus is characterized by its growth as a non-woody, self-supporting herb that typically functions as an independent organism rather than a parasite. As a terrestrial species, it does not exhibit epiphytic behavior, occupying land-based habitats rather than growing on other plants. The plant displays a versatile growth form, ranging from a simple herb to a shrub-like appearance, and it is categorized as a terrestrial species rather than being aquatic or semiaquatic. Structurally, it is not a climber, maintaining a self-supporting habit as it reaches a maximum plant height of approximately 3 meters.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Growth form :

herb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

3 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiological structure of the foliage in Coleus barbatus is characterized by specific morphological dimensions that facilitate its metabolic processes. The leaves exhibit a notable structural consistency, maintaining a uniform leaf width that is measured at a mean, minimum, and maximum of 8 cm. This consistent width suggests a stabilized surface area for gas exchange and light interception. In terms of longitudinal development, the leaf length displays a variable range, reaching a maximum capacity of 17 cm, which allows the plant to optimize its canopy architecture for photosynthetic efficiency.

Leaf length max:

17 cm

Leaf width mean:

8 cm

Reproduction

The reproduction of Coleus barbaptus is characterized by a reliance on biotic pollination and specialized seed characteristics. The plant utilizes a biotic pollination syndrome, specifically mediated by insects, to facilitate fertilization. Once fertilization occurs, the resulting seeds are characterized by a uniform length of 2 mm, with no observed variation between the minimum and maximum dimensions. The seed mass is quite small and variable, ranging from a minimum of 0.00082 g to a maximum of 0.00164 g, with an average mass of approximately 0.00123 g. Dispersal of these seeds follows an unspecialized syndrome, lacking highly specific mechanisms for transport. Furthermore, the reproductive cycle of this species is strictly sexual, as asexual reproduction is absent.

Dispersal syndrome :

unspecialized

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Seed length mean:

2 mm

Seed mass max:

0.00164 g

Seed mass mean:

0.00123 g

Seed mass min:

0.00082 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Coleus barbatus has 2 reported plant parts identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include root, leaf.

Root

1. Microorganisms
2. BMC complementary and alternative medicine
3. Virusdisease

Leaf

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Chemicals

Coleus barbatus has 84 reported phytochemicals identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include forskolin, Coleonol B, (+)-Ferruginol, 1,9-DIDEOXYFORSKOLIN, 1-Deoxyforskolin.

forskolin

1. Dr. Duke
2. Inflammopharmacology
3. Saudi pharmaceutical journal : SPJ : the official publication of the Saudi Pharmaceutical Society
4. Planta medica
5. Microorganisms

Coleonol B

1. Dr. Duke
2. Saudi pharmaceutical journal : SPJ : the official publication of the Saudi Pharmaceutical Society

(+)-Ferruginol

1. Dr. Duke

1,9-DIDEOXYFORSKOLIN

1. Dr. Duke

1-Deoxyforskolin

1. Dr. Duke

20-deoxocarnosol

1. Dr. Duke

5,6-dehydrosugiol

1. Saudi pharmaceutical journal : SPJ : the official publication of the Saudi Pharmaceutical Society

7beta-Acetoxy-6beta,9alpha-dihydroxy-8,13-epoxy-labd-14-en-11-one

1. Dr. Duke

ALPHA-IONONE

1. Dr. Duke

ALPHA-PHELLANDRENE

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Coleus barbatus has 247 reported activities identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Cytotoxic, Analgesic, Antibacterial, Antimalarial.

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Saudi pharmaceutical journal : SPJ : the official publication of the Saudi Pharmaceutical Society
3. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Cytotoxic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Saudi pharmaceutical journal : SPJ : the official publication of the Saudi Pharmaceutical Society
3. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Analgesic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antibacterial

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antimalarial

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antimicrobial

1. Saudi pharmaceutical journal : SPJ : the official publication of the Saudi Pharmaceutical Society
2. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Antispasmodic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Hepatoprotective

1. Dr. Duke
2. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

(-)-Chronotropic

1. Dr. Duke

(-)-Inotropic

1. Dr. Duke

Medicinal Uses

Coleus barbatus has 2 reported medicinal uses identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include embryo implantation, pregnancy.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations