Monkey's Potato

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Monkey's Potato

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Plectranthus monostachyus
• Solenostemon monostachyus
• Solenostemon ocymoides var. monostachyus
• Ocimum monostachyum

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta within the class Equisetopsida. Following the subclass Magnoliidae, it is placed in the order Lamiales and the family Lamiaceae. Finally, it is categorized under the genus Coleus.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant, Coleus monostachyus, is primarily found throughout the West Tropical Africa region. Its geographical range specifically includes the nation of Burkina. Additionally, this medicinal species can be located within the borders of Ghana. It is also distributed across the coastal and inland areas of Guinea-Bissau and Guinea. Finally, the plant's presence extends to the territory of Ivory Coast.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Coleus monostachyus is characterized by its presence within both anthropogenic areas and ombrophilous forests, which include tropical rainforest ecosystems. In these environments, the plant thrives in habitats defined by high humidity and significant rainfall, typical of ombrophilous biomes where moisture is a consistent driver of biological activity. Its ability to inhabit anthropogenic areas indicates a degree of ecological plasticity, allowing it to colonize disturbed landscapes or human-altered environments that may still retain some of the moisture-rich characteristics of its natural forest surroundings. Within the dense canopy or understory of the rainforest, the species likely interacts with complex soil nutrient cycles and high levels of organic matter, benefiting from the stable, damp microclimates provided by the forest structure.

Habitat :

Área Antrópica, Floresta Ombrófila (= Floresta Pluvial)

Life history

The life history of Coleus monostachyuus is characterized by a specific developmental trajectory defined by its seasonal growth patterns and structural adaptations. As an annual plant, its life cycle is completed within a single growing season, progressing from germination through vegetative growth to seed production and eventual senescence. In terms of its ecological life form, it exhibits characteristics of both a chamaephyte and a therophyte; as a therophyte, it completes its entire life cycle as a seasonal herb, often relying on seeds to survive unfavorable periods, while its chamaephyte tendencies suggest a growth habit where the permanent buds are located close to the soil surface, allowing for a compact structural form during its active phase.

Life form :

chamaephyte

Life form :

therophyte

Lifecycle :

annual

Morphology

The morphology of Coleus monostachyus is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb, typically reaching an average plant height of 0.7 m. This plant functions as a self-supporting species rather than a climber and grows as an independent organism without parasitic tendencies. It is strictly a terrestrial plant, lacking aquatic or epiphytic habits, and maintains a herbaceous structure throughout its development.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height mean:

0.7 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Coleus monostachyus is characterized by its specialized metabolic processes and resource acquisition strategies, primarily focusing on efficient photosynthesis and nutrient absorption through its root system. As a member of the Lamiaceae family, the plant exhibits specific physiological responses to light intensity and water availability, utilizing its chlorophyll-rich tissues to drive carbon fixation. Regarding its ability to interact with soil microbes for nutrient enhancement, the plant is not a nitrogen fixer; it does not possess the biological mechanism or symbiotic relationship with nitrogen-fixing bacteria required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into a usable form, meaning its nitrogen requirements must be met through the uptake of nitrates or ammonium from the surrounding substrate.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Coleus monostachyus is characterized by a highly flexible fruiting cycle, as the fruiting time is considered variable across the months, though specific observations indicate a fruiting period centered around March. The reproductive output is defined by extremely small seeds, which exhibit a high degree of uniformity in their physical properties. Specifically, the seed mass follows a very narrow range, with a mean mass of 0.00028 g, a minimum mass of 0.00027 g, and a maximum mass of 0.00029 g. This consistency in seed size, combined with the variable seasonal timing of fruit production, dictates the plant's dispersal and colonization potential within its natural habitat.

Fruiting time :

Mar

Seed mass max:

0.00029 g

Seed mass mean:

0.00028 g

Seed mass min:

0.00027 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Coleus monostachyus has 1 reported plant parts identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf.

Leaf

1. Pakistan journal of biological sciences : PJBS

Activities

Coleus monostachyus has 3 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antimalarial, Antiplasmodial, Antipyretic.

Antimalarial

1. Pharmaceutical biology

Antiplasmodial

1. Pharmaceutical biology

Antipyretic

1. Pharmaceutical biology

Preparations

Coleus monostachyus has 4 reported preparations identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include extracts, homogenized, methanolic extracts, powder.

Extracts

1. Pakistan journal of biological sciences : PJBS

Homogenized

1. Pakistan journal of biological sciences : PJBS

Methanolic extracts

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Powder

1. Pakistan journal of biological sciences : PJBS