Coleus scutellarioides (L.) Benth.

Kiew, Ruth & Kamin, Imin, 2021, Coleus (Lamiaceae) in Peninsular Malaysia including two new species, PhytoKeys 186, pp. 93-110 : 93

5. Coleus scutellarioides (L.) Benth.

Coleus scutellarioides in Wall., Pl. Asiat. Rar. 2: 15 (1830); Keng, Gard. Bull. Singapore 24: 51 (1969). Coleus scutellarioides var. scutellarioides Keng, Gard. Bull. Singapore 24: 53 (1969). Basionym: Ocimum scutellarioides L., Sp. Pl. ed. 2, 2: 834 (1763) (as Ocymum ). Type: Majana (alba et rubra) in Rumphius, Herb. Amboin. 5: 291, t. 101 (1747), (lectotype, designated by Merrill, Interpr. Rumph. Herb. Amboin.: 460 (1917).) Homotypic synonyms: Plectranthus scutellarioides (L.) R.Br., Prodr. Fl. Nov. Holl.: 506 (1810); Blume, Bijdr. Fl. Ned. Ind.: 837 (1826); Keng, Fl. Malesiana Ser. I, 8: 389 (1978); Suddee et al., Kew Bull. 59: 410 (2004); Kiew in Henderson’s Malaysian Wild Flowers Dicotyledons: 298 (2014); Bramley, Fl. Malesiana Ser. I, 23: 296 (2019). Solenostemon scutellarioides (L.) Codd, Bothalia 11: 439 (1975); Turner, Gard. Bull. Singapore 47: 273 (1996 ‘1995’). Heterotypic synonyms: Coleus atropurpureus Benth. in Wall., Pl. Asiat. Rar. 2: 16 (1830); Prain, J. Asiat. Soc. Beng. 74, 2: 706 (1907); Ridley, Fl. Mal. Penins. 2: 646 (1923). Syntypes: Singapore Wall. Cat. 2733A (syntypes K!, K-W!). Coleus blumei Benth., Labiat. Gen. Sp.: 56 (1832). Type: Java, Blume s.n. (lectotype L, designated by Suddee et al., Kew Bull. 59: 410 (2004).)

Note.

Here are included only references that cite Malaysian specimens. For synonomy under Coleus see Paton et al. Phytokeys 129 (2019) 1-158, for Plectanthus for continental South East Asia see Suddee et al. (2004) and for Malesia see Bramley (2019).

The description provided here refers only to wild plants from Peninsular Malaysia.

Description.

Erect or ascending sparsely branched herb, 30-60 cm tall, aromatic, without tubers. Stem and branches finely pubescent to glabrous. Leaves with petiole 1-5 cm; lamina ovate, (2.5-)4-7.5 × (2-)3-4 cm, plain dark green, base rounded or sometimes truncate, margin crenate with rounded teeth, apex acute, tip rounded, upper surface glabrous or with short hairs, lower surface pubescent on the main and secondary veins. Inflorescences terminal, unbranched spike or sometimes branched at base, to 40 cm long, flowers in few- to many-flowered verticils or in irregularly branched cymes, peduncles of the lateral cymes short or elongated. Bracts narrowly ovate to ovate, apex acute, pubescent, 2-8 mm long, caducous. Pedicels 1-2 mm long in flower, extending in fruit. Flower: calyx campanulate, 2-3 mm long, in fruit 4-8 mm, minutely pubescent; posterior lobe broadly ovate, subacute, recurved and erect, two lateral lobes of anterior lip short, oblong-obtuse, truncate or rounded, rarely mucronate with a tiny apiculate apex, about half as long as central lobes of anterior lip, these oblong to subulate, connate for two thirds their length, acuminate at apex, longer than posterior lobe, anterior lobe divided into 2 points; corolla 8(-13)-16 mm long, tube abruptly decurved above the calyx, white, 4-5, ca. 7.5 mm long, dilating widely to the throat, with scattered hairs; posterior lip with lobes pubescent, the two central lobes rounded, anterior lip deep or rosy violet, 4-5(-9) mm long; stamens not exserted from anterior lip. Nutlets broadly ovate or orbicular, brown to black, shining, 1-1.2 mm long, minutely tuberculate, mucilaginous when wet.

Note.

Ridley (1923) and Burkill (1966) considered the coleus of gardens (i.e. Coleus blumei ) was introduced from Java and was distinct from Malayan C. atropurpurea . These two species are recognized as conspecific and are currently known as Coleus scutellarioides ( Paton et al. (2019) with the result that the description has expanded to include the huge range in leaf size, shape and colour of the ornamental forms that are not seen in the wild form of Malaysian population. The description above is based on the wild form that has smaller, plain green leaves. Unlike Scutellaria discolor Wall. ex Benth., it is not found deep in forest and is seldom found in flower. That it is usually associated with forest edge, often close to habitation, suggests that many of these populations have been established for their medicinal properties.

On account of it being extremely variable, Keng (1978) and Bramley (2019) did not recognise subspecific taxa, there being too many intermediate specimens. A view that is followed here.

Distribution.

SE Asia (India, Myanmar, Thailand, Indo-China, S. China, Taiwan, throughout Malesia to Australia, Melanesia (Solomon Is.) and Polynesia. In Peninsular Malaysia, widespread (Johor, Melaka, Penang, Perak, Pahang and Selangor).

Provisional conservation status.

Least Concern. (Assessed by A.R. Rafidah).

Ecology.

In Peninsular Malaysia, from forest edge and often near villages throughout the lowlands to 350 m elevation ( Kiew 2014), sometimes in forest by streams but not from limestone hills as reported by Keng (1978). That the forest localities are often close to villages and it has medicinal uses suggests these populations may have been planted, particularly because this species seldom flowers but can easily be propagated by stem cuttings.

Etymology.

Greek - oides = resembling; Scutellaria L., a genus in Lamiaceae .

Uses.

In Peninsular Malaysia, it has always been commonly known as ‘coleus’ and in Malay as pokok ati-ati. Cultivated forms are popular ornamental plants and come in a great variety of multicoloured, variegated foliage. In Cameron Highlands, they are grown in great quantities for home gardens. The colour of plants grown in the highlands, ca. 2000 m, is more vivid than those grown in the lowlands.

It is a minor medicinal plant used to cure a wide range of ailments. Burkill (1966, pg. 643) reported it was a remedy for heart disease, heart burn, inflammation of heart; sensitive skin, stimulates digestion and for congestion of the liver that causes swellings of the hands and feet, amongst other ailments. Among the aboriginal population, the Besis people (now more commonly known as the Mah Meri) call it torek, and plant it around their graves. They also traditionally use it as the brush used for sprinkling holy rice-gruel over a new clearing ( Burkill 1966).

Peninsular Malaysia specimens examined

(* indicates specimens collected in villages that are presumed to be cultivated): Johor: Pulau Aor Fielding s.n. 1892. Melaka: Griffith 39 57* 1845 (K), Burkill 35515 *. Pahang: Bentong Burkill & Md Haniff SFN 16536 ; Pekan Burkill & Md Haniff SFN 17728 ; Sungai Telom Poore 538 roadside; Tapah Burkill & Md Haniff SFN 13527 . Penang: Wallich s.n. * 1829 (K); Curtis 466 Paya Tobong 1892; Sinclair SFN 39391 * village, Pulau Betong. Perak: Bagan Datuk Md Haniff SFN 16273 ; Batu Kurau Md Haniff & Sa’at SFN 13272 ; Gerik Burkill & Md Haniff SFN 13647 ; Kampung Gajah Md Haniff SFN 16299 ; Kota Setir Md Haniff SFN 15924 ; Kuala Kangsar to Kota Lama, Md Haniff SFN 15562 ; Lubuk Merbok, Md Haniff SFN 15985 , Md Haniff SFN 16004 ; Tanjung Malim - Burkill & Md Haniff SFN 13500 ; Telok Anson Burkill & Md Haniff SFN 15945 , Md Haniff SFN 10315 . Selangor: Ulu Gombak T & B 2823 roadside [leaves multicoloured], Md Nur SFN 3423 2 by stream; Kuala Lumpur Ridley s.n. * 1890 bunga ati-ati merah. Terengganu: Bundi Rostado s.n.