Lamiaceae / Labiatae (mint, lavender, basil family)

Family: Lamiaceae / Labiatae (mint, lavender, basil family)

Life > eukaryotes > Archaeoplastida > Chloroplastida > Charophyta > Streptophytina > Plantae (land plants) > Tracheophyta (vascular plants) > Euphyllophyta > Lignophyta (woody plants) > Spermatophyta (seed plants) > Angiospermae (flowering plants) > Eudicotyledons > Order: Lamiales

This is a large family of about 252 genera and 6700 species worldwide, with 39 genera and 350 species native to southern Africa, five genera and 16 species naturalised and 38 genera and 141 species cultivated in the region. There are many culinary and medicinal herbs in this family.

Genera native or naturalised (*) in southern Africa

List from Retief (2000).

Achyrospermum The ten species are native to the Old World tropics, with one occurring in southern Africa - Achyrospermum carvalhoi (recorded from Zimbabwe). See Flora of Zimbabwe.
Acrotome About eight species, all African. Six of the species are native to southern Africa.
Aeollanthus The 43 species are found in tropical and warm regions of Africa, with 11 species found in southern Africa.
Ajuga About 50 species, found in temperate regions of the Old World. The only species native to southern Africa is Ajuga ophrydis, found in the eastern parts of southern Africa. Ajuga reptans (Common bugle), native to Europe, is cultivated in southern Africa.
Ballota About 35 species, found mainly in the Mediterranean region and Asia Minor. The only species native to southern Africa is Ballota africana. In addition, there are two cultivated species from the Mediterranean region: Ballota nigra (Black horehound) and Ballota pseudodictamnus.
Basilicum The seven species are found in tropical regions of the Old World with only one species, Basilicum polystachyon, found in southern Africa (Mpumalanga, Swaziland and northern KwaZulu-Natal).
Clerodendrum About 400 species, found in tropical and subtropical regions of the Old World. There are 13 species native to southern Africa, and 14 species cultivated. A number of species formerly placed under Clerodendrum are now in the genus Rotheca. Clerodendrum was formerly placed in the Verbenaceae.
Clinopodium One species native to southern Africa - Clinopodium myrianthum (recorded from Zimbabwe).
Endostemon The 17 species are native mainly to Africa, with three native to southern Africa.
Englerastrum About 20 species. The only species in southern Africa is Englerastrum schweinfurthii which is found along the Okavango and Zambesi Rivers (Caprivi area) in Namibia.
Haumaniastrum About 130 species, native to tropical regions of the Old World. There are five species native to southern Africa.
Holostylon About four species, native to tropical Africa, with one species, Holostylon baumii found in southern Africa (Botswana).
Hoslundia One species: Hoslundia opposita, widespread through tropical Africa and extending as far south as Mpumalanga, Swaziland and northern KwaZulu-Natal. See Flora of Zimbabwe.
Karomia Nine species, with one in SE Asia and 8 in Africa and Madagascar. Two species native to southern Africa: Karomia speciosa, found in Mpumalanga, Swaziland and KwaZulu-Natal, and Karomia tettensis (see Flora of Zimbabwe). Previously placed in the Verbenaceae.
Killickia Four species native to southern Africa.
Leonotis About 10-15 species, all from Africa, with seven species found in southern Africa.
Leucas About 150 species, native mainly to Africa and Asia, with 16 species native to southern Africa.
Mentha (mints) The 25 species are mainly found in temperate regions of the Old World. Two species are native to southern Africa and an additional five species and three hybrids are cultivated in the region.
Micromeria One species native to southern Africa.
Neohyptis One species: Neohyptis paniculata, distributed from West Africa down through Angola and Zambia to as far south as northern Botswana in southern Africa.
Ocimum About 30 species, native to the tropics and subtropics, with 19 species native to southern Africa and an additional four species cultivated in the region.
Orthosiphon About 40-50 species, distributed in the tropics of the Old World, with five species native to southern Africa.
Platostoma Two species native to southern Africa - Platostoma rotundifolium and Platostoma strictum (recorded from Zimbabwe, see Flora of Zimbabwe).
Plectranthus About 300 species, distributed in the tropical and warm regions of the Old World, with 74 species found in southern Africa.
Premna About 200 species, distributed mainly in the warmer regions of the Old World, with two species in southern Africa. Previously placed in the Verbenaceae.
Pycnostachys The 37 species are native to tropical Africa and Madagascar, with six species found in southern Africa.
Rabdosiella One species: Rabdosiella calycina, widespread in the eastern parts of southern Africa.
Rotheca Species in this genus were formerly placed in Clerodendrum. There are 15 species native to southern Africa.
Salvia (sages) About 900 species, distributed in temperate and tropical regions worldwide, with 26 native species and four naturalised species in southern Africa. There are an additional 23 exotic species that are cultivated in this region.
Satureja One species native to southern Africa - Satureja biflora; in addition, two species from the Mediterranean are cultivated in the region.
Scutellaria About 300 species, distributed widely, with one native species in southern Africa - Scutellaria schweinfurthii (recorded from Zimbabwe, see Flora of Zimbabwe). Scutellaria racemosa is native to South America and has become naturalised in southern Africa.
Solenostemon About 60 species, distributed in Africa, Asia and Malesia, with one species native to southern Africa - Solenostemon rotundifolius. An additional two species are cultivated in the region.
Stachys About 300, distributed mainly in subtropical and temperate regions, with 42 species native to southern Africa. Additionally, one species is naturalised and three species are cultivated in the region.
Syncolostemon The 38 species are endemic to southern Africa.
Tetradenia There are six species in the genus, native to tropical Africa and Madagascar, with six species found in southern Africa.
Teucrium About 100 species, found in temperate and warm regions worldwide but most species occurring in the Northern Hemisphere. Three species are native to southern Africa and an additional six species are cultivated in the region.
Thorncroftia The five species are endemic to Limpopo and Mpumalanga.
Tinnea The 19 species are all African, with six species native to southern Africa.
Vitex About 250 species, distributed in tropical and temperate regions, with 18 species found in southern Africa. Formerly placed in the family Verbenaceae.

Genera naturalised in southern Africa

List from Plants of Southern Africa - an Online Checklist (SANBI).

Cedronella One species, Cedronella canariensis, native to Madeira and the Canary Islands, and a widespread weed on the Western Cape.
Hyptis About 300 species, native to warm and tropical regions of America and Africa. Four species are naturalised in southern Africa.
Lamium About 40 species, native mainly to the north temperate regions of the Old World. A European species, Lamium amplexicaule, has become a widespread weed in disturbed places in southern Africa. An additional two species are cultivated in the region.
Marrubium About 30 species, native to Europe, north Africa and Asia. Marrubium vulgare is a weed in southern Africa. Additionally, Marrubium incanum (native from Italy to Albania) is cultivated in the region.
Prunella About 5-7 species, found in the temperate regions of both hemispheres, but in southern Africa there is only the introduced Prunella vulgaris which has become naturalised in wet vleis and along forest margins in KwaZulu-Natal. Prunella grandiflora (Large selfheal), native to Europe, is cultivated in southern Africa.

Other genera, cultivated in southern Africa

List from Glen (2002). The species name is provided in genera that have only one species cultivated in southern Africa.

Acinos arvensis (Basil thyme) Indigenous from Europe to western Asia.
Agastache Two species cultivated - Agastache cana (native to Texas) and Agastache foeniculum (Anise or Giant hyssop) (native to western USA).
Anisomeles malabarica Indigenous from Mauritius to Malaysia.
Calamintha glandulosa (Lesser calamint) Native to southern and western Europe.
Callicarpa Five species cultivated. Previously placed in the Verbenaceae.
Caryopteris Two species cultivated - Caryopteris incana (native to China and Japan) and Caryopteris odorata (native to India).
Clinopodium vulgare (Wild basil) Native to Europe.
Coleus thyrsoideus Native to tropical Africa.
Colquhounia coccinea Indigenous from India to China.
Congea tomentosa Indigenous from India to Vietnam. Previously placed in the Verbenaceae.
Dracocephalum moldavica Indigenous from Eurasia to China.
Galeobdolon luteum (Yellow archangel)
Glechoma hederacea (Ground ivy, Alehoof) Indigenous from Europe to the Caucasus.
Gmelina Four species cultivated. Previously placed in the Verbenaceae.
Hedeoma pulegioides (American pennyroyal) Native to eastern USA and Canada.
Holmskioldia sanguinea (Chinese hat plant) Native to India. Previously placed in the Verbenaceae.
Hyssopus officinalis (Hyssop) Native to southern Europe.
Lavandula (lavenders) Eight species and two hybrids cultivated.
Leonurus Two species cultivated - Leonurus cardiacus (Motherwort) (native to Europe) and Leonurus sibiricus (native from eastern Siberia to China).
Lepechinia chamaedryoides Native to Chile.
Melissa officianalis (Lemon balm) Indigenous from Europe to Iran.
Moluccella laevis (Bells of Ireland, Shell flower) Indigenous from Cyprus to Iraq.
Monarda Four species cultivated.
Monardella undulata Native to California.
Nepeta Six species and one hybrid cultivated.
Origanum Four species and one hybrid cultivated.
Oxera pulchella Native to New Calidonia. Previously placed in the Verbenaceae.
Perilla frutescens (Yegoma) Native to Southeast Asia.
Perovskia atriplicifolia Native to Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Phlomis Two species cultivated - Phlomis fruticosa (Jerusalem sage) (native to the Mediterranean) and Phlomis russellia.
Physostegia virginiana (Obedient plant) Native to the USA.
Pogostemon One unidentified species cultivated.
Prostanthera Three species cultivated (all from eastern Australia).
Rosmarinus officinalis (Rosemary) Native to the Mediterranean region.
Sideritis candicans Native to Madeira.
Tectona grandis (Teak, Indian teak) Indigenous from India to Laos. Previously placed in the Verbenaceae.
Thymus (thymes) Seven species and one hybrid cultivated.
Westringia fruticosa Native to eastern Australia.

Publications

Retief, E. 2000. Lamiaceae. In: Seed Plants of Southern Africa (ed. O.A. Leistner). Strelitzia 10: 323-334. National Botanical Institute, Pretoria.
Glen, H.F. 2002. Cultivated Plants of Southern Africa. Jacana, Johannesburg.