Camphor Spurflower

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Camphor Spurflower

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Plectranthus glomeratus
• Coleus subbaraoi
• Plectranthus montanus
• Plectranthus spiciformis
• Burnatastrum cylindraceum
• Plectranthus densiflorus
• Plectranthus fischeri
• Germanea cylindracea
• Geniosporum fissum
• Geniosporum lasiostachyum
• Plectranthus cylindraceus
• Plectranthus marrubioides
• Plectranthus moschosmoides

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae within the phylum Streptophyta and is classified under the class Equisetopsida. Following its subclass Magnoliidae, it is organized into the order Lamiales and the family Lamiaceae. Finally, it is identified under the genus Coleus as Coleus cylindraceus.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific geographical range concentrated primarily within the tropical regions of Africa. In West-Central Tropical Africa, its presence is documented across several distinct nations, including Burundi and Congo. It can also be found within the borders of Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Furthermore, its distribution extends into Northeast Tropical Africa, specifically within Djibouti. These locations highlight the varied environmental niches this medicinal species occupies across the continent.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Coleus cylindraceus is characterized by its ability to inhabit a diverse range of altitudinal gradients, allowing it to persist across varied topographical landscapes. This species demonstrates significant ecological plasticity, occupying habitats that span from low-lying areas at a minimum elevation of 152 m AMSL to much higher montane regions reaching a maximum elevation of 3250 m AMSL. This broad elevational range suggests that the plant is capable of adapting to a wide spectrum of environmental conditions, including fluctuations in temperature, atmospheric pressure, and moisture availability associated with ascending mountain profiles.

Elevational range max:

3250 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

152 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Coleus cylindraceus is characterized by its status as a perennial organism, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons rather than completing its cycle within a single year. In terms of its structural growth habit and survival strategy, it is classified as a chamaephyte, meaning its perennating buds are located close to or just above the soil surface, which helps the plant withstand various environmental conditions. This combination of a perennial lifecycle and a chamaephyte life form enables the species to maintain a consistent presence within its ecological niche, regenerating from its protected buds to ensure long-term survival.

Life form :

chamaephyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Coleus cylindraceus is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb, specifically presenting as a forb. This plant is primarily terrestrial in its ecological habit, though it can exist within semiaquatic environments. It is a self-supporting species that does not function as a climber, epiphyte, or parasite, maintaining an independent lifestyle. In terms of stature, the plant exhibits a vertical growth habit with a height ranging from a minimum of 0.6 m to a maximum of 1.5 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

1.5 m

Plant height min:

0.6 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Reproduction

The reproduction of Coleus cylindraceus is characterized by the production of highly uniform seeds, which exhibit consistent physical properties across the population. Data regarding the seed mass indicates an extremely fine and stable distribution, with a recorded mean seed mass of 4e-05 g. This precision is reflected in the maximum and minimum seed mass values, both of which are also documented at 4e-05 g. Such a lack of variance in seed mass suggests a highly standardized reproductive output, where each seed maintains a strictly consistent weight, facilitating predictable germination patterns and developmental traits within the species.

Seed mass mean:

4e-05 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Coleus cylindraceus has 1 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Maaliol.

Maaliol

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Activities

Coleus cylindraceus has 3 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antimicrobial, Antioxidant, Cytotoxic.

Antimicrobial

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

Antioxidant

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

Cytotoxic

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