Colored jungle basil
Platostoma coloratum

Family: Lamiaceae

What it is like

A shrub. It grows about 1-2 m high. The plant has scaly hairs. The leaves do not have stalks. They occur opposite one another. They are 3.5-12 cm long by 1.5-3.5 cm wide. They are oval and with coarse teeth. They are softly hairy. The flowers are small and purple. The occur in compact rings. The fruit is a nutlet. It is black.

There are about 25 Geniosporum species. They are probably now all Plectranthus.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. In Nepal the plants grow to about 1600 m altitude. In China it grows in shady valleys in thickets between 1100 and 1600 m altitude in Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Bhutan, China, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, SE Asia

How it is used for food

The seeds are chewed or pickled.

Edible parts

Seeds

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seed.

Its other names

Local names

Ban babari, Ban bawari, Wang e mu

Synonyms

Geniosporum coloratum (D. Don) Kuntze; Geniosporum coloratum (D. Don) Briq. in E. & P.; Plectranthus coloratus D. Don;