Coleus monostachyus (Introduced)

Coleus monostachyus (P.Beauv.) A.J.Paton, PhytoKeys 129: 76 (2019) (syn: Ocimum monostachyum P.Beauv. ; Plectranthus monostachyus (P.Beauv.) B.J.Pollard ; Plectranthus palisotii Benth. ; Solenostemon monostachyus (P.Beauv.) Briq. ; Solenostemon ocymoides var. monostachyus (P.Beauv.) Baker);
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W. Tropical Africa to Sudan: Burkina, Cabinda, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, DR Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Gulf of Guinea Is., Ivory Coast, Liberia, Mali, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sudan-South Sudan, Togo; Introduced into: India, Malaya as per POWO;
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743 ID wild plant Coleus non tuberous:
Please ID wild non tuberous Coleus,

Location: Thodupuzha Idukki Kerala INDIA
Altitude: 100fsl
Flower date: 14OCT2025, 08.55am
Habitat: wild moisture sloppy streamside
Plant habit: small erect branchless non tuberous herb, weak fleshy angular stem 01.5cm base circumference, annual
Height: upto 02 feet
Leaves: opposite heart shaped acute flexible serrated margins, size upto: 06×4cm
Flower: terminal/axillary spike inflorescence, clustered, whitish violet, non fragrant size:04x2mm
Fruit:
Seed:


Please check Equilabium molle (Aiton) Mwany. & A.J.Paton.


It is very close to Equilabium molle, but I observed some differences, please compare collage image provided, left is mine.


Coleus is non tuberous also in South India, I have observed in Govanur (near Coimbatur) flower looks like coleus but leaves are not matching. May be Perilla, or plectranthus etc. pls confirm . Or Coleus from Sri lanka also not developing tubers.


Coleus monostachyus (P.Beauv.) A.J.Paton


Yes, it is Coleus monostachyus, dear …, thank you very much for ID my plant.


Recently published as a new record for India as per
https://horizonepublishing.com/journals/index.php/PST/article/view/1561 (Coleus monostachyus (P. Beauv.) A. J. Paton (Lamiaceae): A new addition to the flora of India- Vol. 9 No. sp1 (2022))


 


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References:
POWO  GBIF (High resolution specimens)
https://ilovenature.sg/Coleus%20monostachyus/Main.html
https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/1278888-Coleus-monostachyus
https://www.nparks.gov.sg/florafaunaweb/flora/6/2/6202

Coleus monostachyus (P. Beauv.) A. J. Paton (Lamiaceae): A new addition to the flora of India– K. Subrahmanya Prasad, P. Biju, K. Agretious Thomas & E. J. Josekutty- PLANT SCIENCE TODAY, Vol 9(sp1): 0911, 2022 (Abstract: Coleus monostachyus (P. Beauv.) A. J. Paton is reported here as a new addition to the flora of India. It seems the seeds of this plant might have come along with the timbers imported from the SE Asian countries. A detailed morphological description based on the Indian plants and photographs are provided to facilitate easy and correct identification.)

 

Updated on February 16, 2026

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