Plectranthus verticillatus

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Internal ID UUID643fe8190d5cd828855336
Scientific name Plectranthus verticillatus
Authority Druce
First published in Rep. Bot. Soc. Exch. Club Brit. Isles 4: 640 (1916 publ. 1917)

Ethnobotanical Use Top

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General Uses Top

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Common products:
Plectranthus verticillatus is widely cultivated as an indoor and garden ornamental for its trailing habit, glossy leaves, and occasional white tubular flowers. The species is sold commercially as potted specimens, hanging baskets, and ground‑cover plants, and is listed in major horticultural databases such as the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Plant Finder and the University of Florida IFAS Extension (RHS, 2024; UF/IFAS, 2022). Commercial production relies on vegetative propagation by stem cuttings, which yield uniform cultivars and ensure rapid turnover for the ornamental market.

Scientific and model‑organism uses:
Molecular phylogenetics: The taxon has been included in DNA‑based phylogenetic studies of the Lamiaceae family, providing data for resolving relationships among Plectranthus and related genera (e.g., Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 2018). Chemotaxonomy: Its leaf essential oil profile has been characterized and used in chemotaxonomic surveys to delimit species boundaries within the genus (Journal of Essential Oil Research, 2000). Consequently, P. verticillatus functions as a reference species in herbarium barcoding projects and in investigations of volatile chemical diversity.

Properties relevant to use:
Morphology and trichomes: Leaves possess numerous sessile and peltate glandular trichomes that secrete a low‑yield essential oil (≈0.1–0.2 % w/w by steam distillation). The oil is dominated by monoterpenes (≈45 % 1,8‑cineole) and sesquiterpenes (≈15 % β‑caryophyllene), imparting a fresh, herbaceous aroma with a moderate flash point (>60 °C) and suitable volatility for fragrance formulations. Growth habit: The species exhibits a prostrate to semi‑trailing growth form and tolerates low‑light indoor conditions, attributes that facilitate commercial pot‑plant production and reduce the need for extensive greenhouse infrastructure.

Standards and regulation:
Ornamental plants of P. verticillatus are subject to general plant health regulations, such as the EU Plant Health Directive (2000/29/EC) and national phytosanitary certification for export. The leaf essential oil, when used as a fragrance ingredient, falls under the International Fragrance Association (IFRA) Code of Practice and the EU Cosmetic Regulation (EC No 1223/2009), which require safety assessments and limit certain constituents (e.g., limits on 1,8‑cineole concentration for skin‑contact products.

Sustainability and sourcing:
Conservation status: Plectranthus verticillatus is not listed in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species and is considered of least concern. The plant is extensively cultivated in horticultural trade and is propagated under standard nursery practices, minimizing wild harvesting pressure and supporting sustainable supply for ornamental markets.

Synonyms Top

Scientific name Authority First published in
Ocimum racemosum Thunb. Prodr. Pl. Cap. : 96 (1800)
Ocimum verticillatum L.f. Suppl. Pl. : 276 (1782)
Plectranthus nummularius Briq. Bull. Herb. Boissier , sér. 2, 3: 1072 (1903)
Plectranthus thunbergii Benth. Labiat. Gen. Spec. : 37 (1832)

Common names Top

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Language Common/alternative name
English whorled plectranthus
Catalan planta del diner
Persian پیچک سوئدی
Japanese スウェーデンアイビー
Portuguese plectranthus nummularius
Turkish parlak mustafa
Chinese 如意蔓

Subspecies (abbr. subsp./ssp.) Top

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Varieties (abbr. var.) Top

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Subvarieties (abbr. subvar.) Top

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Forms (abbr. f.) Top

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Germination/Propagation Top

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Distribution (via POWO/KEW) Top

Legend for the distribution data:
- Doubtful data
- Extinct
- Introduced
- Native
  • Africa
    • Middle Atlantic Ocean
      • Saint Helena
    • Northeast Tropical Africa
      • Ethiopia
    • South Tropical Africa
      • Mozambique
    • Southern Africa
      • Cape Provinces
      • Kwazulu-Natal
      • Northern Provinces
      • Swaziland
  • Southern America
    • Caribbean
      • Leeward Islands
      • Puerto Rico
      • Venezuelan Antilles
      • Windward Islands
    • Central America
      • El Salvador
      • Honduras
    • Northern South America
      • Venezuela

Links to other databases Top

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Database ID/link to page
World Flora Online wfo-0000275918
USDA Plants PLVE2
Tropicos 17602823
INPN 630447
KEW urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:454770-1
The Plant List kew-158574
Open Tree Of Life 3882781
Observations.org 453484
IPNI 454770-1
iNaturalist 327780
GBIF 2926638
Freebase /m/09v9p3
EPPO PLFVE
EOL 590721
Elurikkus 335687
Wikipedia Plectranthus_verticillatus
CMAUP NPO1033

Genomes (via NCBI) Top

No reference genome is available on NCBI yet. We are constantly monitoring for new data.

Scientific Literature Top

Below are displayed the latest 15 articles published in PMC (PubMed Central®) and other sources (DOI number only)!
Title Authors Publication Released IDs
Two new diterpenoids from Plectranthus nummularius Briq. Narukawa Y, Shimizu N, Shimotohno K, Takeda T Chem Pharm Bull (Tokyo) 01-Sep-2001
doi:10.1248/CPB.49.1182
PMID:11558608

Phytochemical Profile Top

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Below are displayed the proven (via scientific papers) natural compounds!
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Name PubChem ID Canonical SMILES MW Found in Proof
> Benzenoids / Benzene and substituted derivatives / Benzoic acids and derivatives / Hydroxybenzoic acid derivatives
4-Hydroxybenzoic acid 135 Click to see C1=CC(=CC=C1C(=O)O)O 138.12 unknown via CMAUP database
> Benzenoids / Benzene and substituted derivatives / Benzoyl derivatives
4-Methylbenzaldehyde 7725 Click to see 120.15 unknown via CMAUP database
> Benzenoids / Phenols / Methoxyphenols
2-Propenal, 3-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)- 9984 Click to see 178.18 unknown via CMAUP database
> Lignans, neolignans and related compounds / Coumarinolignans
Cleomiscosin C 11464176 Click to see COC1=CC(=CC(=C1O)OC)C2C(OC3=C4C(=CC(=C3O2)OC)C=CC(=O)O4)CO 416.40 unknown via CMAUP database
> Lignans, neolignans and related compounds / Furanoid lignans
4-[(3S,3aS,6S,6aS)-6-(4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethoxy-phenyl)-1,3,3a,4,6,6a-hexahydrofuro[3,4-c]furan-3-yl]-2,6-dimethoxy-phenol 12309695 Click to see COC1=CC(=CC(=C1O)OC)C2C3COC(C3CO2)C4=CC(=C(C(=C4)OC)O)OC 418.40 unknown via CMAUP database
Syringaresinol, (+)- 443023 Click to see 418.40 unknown via CMAUP database
> Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Diterpenoids
(5,6-Dihydroxy-1,10a-dimethyl-7-propan-2-yl-2,3-dihydrophenanthren-1-yl)methyl 3,4-dihydroxybenzoate 85122757 Click to see CC(C)C1=C(C(=C2C3=CCCC(C3(C=CC2=C1)C)(C)COC(=O)C4=CC(=C(C=C4)O)O)O)O 450.50 unknown https://doi.org/10.1248/CPB.49.1182
[(1S,4aS)-5-hydroxy-1,4a-dimethyl-6-oxo-7-propan-2-yl-3,4-dihydro-2H-phenanthren-1-yl]methyl 3,4-dihydroxybenzoate 10366501 Click to see CC(C)C1=CC2=CC=C3C(CCCC3(C2=C(C1=O)O)C)(C)COC(=O)C4=CC(=C(C=C4)O)O 450.50 unknown via CMAUP database
[(3S,4aS)-5-hydroxy-1,1,4a-trimethyl-6-oxo-7-propan-2-yl-3,4-dihydro-2H-phenanthren-3-yl] 3,4-dihydroxybenzoate 10389067 Click to see CC(C)C1=CC2=CC=C3C(CC(CC3(C2=C(C1=O)O)C)OC(=O)C4=CC(=C(C=C4)O)O)(C)C 450.50 unknown via CMAUP database
[5-Hydroxy-1,4a-dimethyl-6-(3-methylbut-2-enoyloxy)-7-propan-2-yl-2,3,4,9,10,10a-hexahydrophenanthren-1-yl]methyl 3,4-dihydroxybenzoate 77916021 Click to see 536.70 unknown https://doi.org/10.1248/CPB.49.1182
Plectranthol A 10366500 Click to see 450.50 unknown https://doi.org/10.1248/CPB.49.1182
Plectranthol B 70697883 Click to see CC(C)C1=C(C(=C2C(=C1)CCC3C2(CCCC3(C)COC(=O)C4=CC(=C(C=C4)O)O)C)O)OC(=O)C=C(C)C 536.70 unknown https://doi.org/10.1248/CPB.49.1182
> Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Steroids and steroid derivatives / Stigmastanes and derivatives
(-)-beta-Sitosterol 222284 Click to see 414.70 unknown via CMAUP database
Sitogluside 5742590 Click to see CCC(CCC(C)C1CCC2C1(CCC3C2CC=C4C3(CCC(C4)OC5C(C(C(C(O5)CO)O)O)O)C)C)C(C)C 576.80 unknown via CMAUP database
> Organic oxygen compounds / Organooxygen compounds / Carbohydrates and carbohydrate conjugates / Glycosyl compounds / Phenolic glycosides
Syringin 5316860 Click to see 372.40 unknown via CMAUP database
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Cinnamic acids and derivatives / Hydroxycinnamic acids and derivatives / Coumaric acids and derivatives
Ethyl 3-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)prop-2-enoate 66883 Click to see 208.21 unknown via CMAUP database
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Cinnamic acids and derivatives / Hydroxycinnamic acids and derivatives / Hydroxycinnamic acids
3-(3-Hydroxy-4-methoxy-phenyl)-acrylic acid 92126 Click to see COC1=C(C=C(C=C1)C=CC(=O)O)O 194.18 unknown via CMAUP database
3-(3,4-Dihydroxyphenyl)Prop-2-Enoic Acid 2518 Click to see 180.16 unknown via CMAUP database
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Coumarins and derivatives / Coumarin glycosides
6,7-dimethoxy-8-[(2S,3R,4S,5S,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxychromen-2-one 21633144 Click to see COC1=C(C(=C2C(=C1)C=CC(=O)O2)OC3C(C(C(C(O3)CO)O)O)O)OC 384.30 unknown via CMAUP database
Calycanthoside 5318566 Click to see 384.30 unknown via CMAUP database
Mandshurin 11740722 Click to see 384.30 unknown via CMAUP database
Scopolin 439514 Click to see COC1=C(C=C2C(=C1)C=CC(=O)O2)OC3C(C(C(C(O3)CO)O)O)O 354.31 unknown via CMAUP database
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Coumarins and derivatives / Hydroxycoumarins
Arteminorin B 44178671 Click to see 412.30 unknown via CMAUP database
Fraxidin 3083616 Click to see COC1=C(C(=C2C(=C1)C=CC(=O)O2)O)OC 222.19 unknown via CMAUP database
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Coumarins and derivatives / Hydroxycoumarins / 6,7-dihydroxycoumarins
Arteminorin C 44178672 Click to see 398.30 unknown via CMAUP database
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Coumarins and derivatives / Hydroxycoumarins / 7-hydroxycoumarins
Arteminorin A 44178670 Click to see 442.40 unknown via CMAUP database
Isofraxidin 5318565 Click to see 222.19 unknown via CMAUP database
Scopoletin 5280460 Click to see 192.17 unknown via CMAUP database
Umbelliferone 5281426 Click to see C1=CC(=CC2=C1C=CC(=O)O2)O 162.14 unknown via CMAUP database
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavones
Apigenin 5280443 Click to see C1=CC(=CC=C1C2=CC(=O)C3=C(C=C(C=C3O2)O)O)O 270.24 unknown via CMAUP database
Luteolin 5280445 Click to see C1=CC(=C(C=C1C2=CC(=O)C3=C(C=C(C=C3O2)O)O)O)O 286.24 unknown via CMAUP database
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / O-methylated flavonoids / 3-O-methylated flavonoids
Chrysoeriol 5280666 Click to see 300.26 unknown via CMAUP database
Tricin 5281702 Click to see COC1=CC(=CC(=C1O)OC)C2=CC(=O)C3=C(C=C(C=C3O2)O)O 330.29 unknown via CMAUP database
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / O-methylated flavonoids / 4-O-methylated flavonoids
Acacetin 5280442 Click to see 284.26 unknown via CMAUP database
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / O-methylated flavonoids / 6-O-methylated flavonoids
Santin 5281695 Click to see COC1=CC=C(C=C1)C2=C(C(=O)C3=C(O2)C=C(C(=C3O)OC)O)OC 344.30 unknown via CMAUP database
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / O-methylated flavonoids / 7-O-methylated flavonoids
5,8-Dihydroxy-7,4'-dimethoxyflavone 15289454 Click to see 314.29 unknown via CMAUP database
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Isoflavonoids / Isoflav-2-enes / Isoflavones
Tectorigenin 5281811 Click to see 300.26 unknown via CMAUP database

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