Coleus argenteus

Coleus argenteus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Lamiales
Family: Lamiaceae
Genus: Coleus
Species:
C. argenteus
Binomial name
Coleus argenteus
(Gamble) A.J.Paton[1]

Coleus argenteus[2] is a stout, herbaceous plant up to 30 cm tall, belonging to the Lamiaceae family and known locally as sheethakkoraali. This species is endemic to South India,[3] primarily found in rocky areas of evergreen forests within locations like Idukki and Palakkad. It is distinctively characterized by its silvery white tomentose (densely hairy) stem and small, sessile, obovate leaves. The plant flowers and fruits between December and February, producing small, yellowish corollas arranged in cylindrical spikes. The current accepted name is Coleus argenteus, having been transferred from its synonym, Anisochilus argenteus Gamble, in 2019.[4]

References

  1. ^ Fl. Madras: 1127 (1924)
  2. ^ "Coleus argenteus | International Plant Names Index". www.ipni.org. Retrieved 2025-09-26.
  3. ^ "Coleus argenteus (Gamble) A.J.Paton | Plants of the World Online | Kew Science". Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 2025-09-26.
  4. ^ Paton, Alan J.; Mwanyambo, Montfort; Govaerts, Rafaël H.A.; Smitha, Kokkaraniyil; Suddee, Somran; Phillipson, Peter B.; Wilson, Trevor C.; Forster, Paul I.; Culham, Alastair (2019). "Nomenclatural changes in Coleus and Plectranthus (Lamiaceae): a tale of more than two genera". PhytoKeys (129): 1–158. Bibcode:2019PhytK.129....1P. doi:10.3897/phytokeys.129.34988. PMC 6717120. PMID 31523157.