Plectranthus ambiguus explained

Plectranthus ambiguus, the pincushion spurflower, is a species of flowering plant in the family Lamiaceae, native to the Eastern Cape and Kwazulu-Natal provinces of South Africa.^{[1] [2]} Its cultivar 'Manguzuku' has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.^[3] Flowers are pinkish purple with faint purple lines on the upper edge.

Ecology

Plectranthus ambiguus flowers from January to March.^[4] Among the Plectranthus species, Plectranthus ambiguus is considered a longer-tubed species with an average tube length of 28.1 mm. It is pollinated by a number of insects, such as species of Stenobasipteron (tangle-veined flies) and bees such as Allodape pernix.^[4]

When deprived of nitrogen, Plectranthus ambiguus begins losing leaves after two weeks, with all leaves shed in three to four weeks. When nitrogen is returned to the soil, new leaves emerge from the plant's axillary buds.^[5]

Medicinal uses

Plectranthus ambiguus, known as iboza in Zulu, has been used by the Zulu people as a medicinal plant for a number of conditions, including skin sores, chest complaints, tonsillitis, fever, cough, and eye problems.^[6] Reports from the 1950s noted its use in treating respiratory ailments - the leaves are crushed and mixed with hot water to make a tonic for colds.^[7]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Plectranthus ambiguus (Bolus) Codd . . Plants of the World Online . Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew . 27 April 2021 .
2. Web site: Plectranthus ambiguus . Notten . Alice . March 2007 . pza.sanbi.org . South Africa National Biodiversity Institute . 27 April 2021 .
3. Web site: Plectranthus ambiguus 'Manguzuku' . 2021 . The Royal Horticultural Society . 27 April 2021 .
4. Potgieter. C. J.. Edwards. T. J.. Miller. R. M.. Van Staden. J.. 1999-03-01. Pollination of seven Plectranthus spp. (Lamiaceae) in southern Natal, South Africa. Plant Systematics and Evolution. en. 218. 1. 99–112. 10.1007/BF01087038. 1999PSyEv.218...99P . 24890618 . 1615-6110.
5. Master's thesis . Chahal. Jazbaat K. . 2010-09-01. Ability of Plectranthus spp to Re-green After Nitrogen Deficiency. University of Nebraska–Lincoln.
6. Mhlongo. L. S.. Van Wyk. B. -E.. 2019-05-01. Zulu medicinal ethnobotany: new records from the Amandawe area of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. South African Journal of Botany. en. 122. 266–290. 10.1016/j.sajb.2019.02.012. 146062047 . 0254-6299. free.
7. Rabe. Tonia. van Staden. Johannes. 1998-02-01. Screening of Plectranthus species for antibacterial activity. South African Journal of Botany. en. 64. 1. 62–65. 10.1016/S0254-6299(15)30834-6. 0254-6299. free.