Plectranthus ecklonii
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Plectranthus ecklonii | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Clump featuring both white and purple flowers | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Lamiales |
| Family: | Lamiaceae |
| Genus: | Plectranthus |
| Species: | P. ecklonii |
| Binomial name | |
| Plectranthus ecklonii | |
Plectranthus ecklonii, commonly known as tall spurflower and Ecklon spurflower, is a shrub from the mint family Lamiaceae, native to South Africa. The habitat includes forest or shaded situations near the coast.[1][2][3]
Inflorescence
Native to the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga provinces of South Africa, it is an aromatic, semi-succulent, fast-growing, erect shrub that reaches the heights of 3 metres (9.8 ft) and has ascending branches that are covered with short, multicellular hairs that are pointed upwards.[4][5]
The ovate to elliptical, somewhat large leaves are 7.4 cm–19 cm x 3.5 cm–11.5cm in size, which are laid out in opposite pairs on the square-shaped stems and feature an edge-shaped base and acute apex, in addition to having clumps of purplish hairs on the nodes. The leaves give a nicotine-like smudge on the skin, if crushed or rubbed.[4]
The inflorescence consist of a terminal panicle that is 37 cm long. The double-lipped petals are 1.5-2.4 cm long, that range from bluish-purple, and at times pink or white. It produces flowers in autumn, from March (or as early as February) to May with a peak in April (in the southern hemisphere), although sporadic blooming can occur at any time of the year.[4][5]
Reproduction
Fruits are a small brown to black nutlet, that is 0.2 cm in length.[5] The plant can reproduce by self-seeding and by broken stems which can root readily.[6]
