List of Lamiaceae of South Africa

Lamiaceae is a family of flowering plants commonly referred to as the Ã¢ÂÂ³mint familyÃ¢ÂÂ³. The country of South Africa has 301 accepted taxa belonging to this family, as ennumerated in an annual checklist of all indigenous and naturalised plant species published by the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI).

What follows is a list of Lamiaceae taxa of plants present within the borders of South Africa (excluding the distant Prince Edward Islands) as of March 2026.

Acrotome

Genus Acrotome:

Acrotome angustifolia G.Taylor, indigenous
Acrotome hispida Benth., indigenous
Acrotome inflata Benth., indigenous
Acrotome pallescens Benth., indigenous
Acrotome thorncroftii Skan, indigenous

Aeollanthus

Genus Aeollanthus:

Aeollanthus buchnerianus Briq., indigenous
Aeollanthus neglectus (Dinter) Launert, indigenous
Aeollanthus parvifolius Benth., indigenous
Aeollanthus rehmannii Gurke, indigenous
Aeollanthus suaveolens Mart. ex Spreng., indigenous

Ajuga

Genus Ajuga:

Ajuga ophrydis Burch. ex Benth., indigenous

Basilicum

Genus Basilicum:

Basilicum polystachyon (L.) Moench, indigenous

Cantinoa

Genus Cantinoa:

Cantinoa americana (Aubl.) Harley & J.F.B.Pastore, naturalised
Cantinoa mutabilis (Rich.) Harley & J.F.B.Pastore, naturalised

Cedronella

Genus Cedronella:

Cedronella canariensis (L.) Webb & Berthel., naturalised (invasive)

Clerodendrum

Genus Clerodendrum:

Clerodendrum africanum Moldenke, endemic
Clerodendrum bungei Steud., naturalised (invasive)
Clerodendrum makanjanum H.J.P.Winkl., indigenous
Clerodendrum pleiosciadium Gurke, indigenous
Clerodendrum ternatum Schinz, indigenous

Coleus

Genus Coleus:

Coleus aliciae (Codd) A.J.Paton, endemic
Coleus amboinicus Lour., indigenous
Coleus autranii Briq., indigenous
Coleus barbatus (Andrews) Benth. ex G.Don
Coleus barbatus var. grandis (L.H.Cramer) A.J.Paton, naturalised (invasive)
Coleus bojeri Benth., indigenous
Coleus calycinus (Benth.) A.J.Paton, endemic
Coleus caninus (Roth) Vatke
Coleus caninus subsp. flavovirens (Gurke) A.J.Paton, indigenous
Coleus comosus Hochst. ex Gurke, naturalised
Coleus cylindraceus (Hochst. ex Benth.) A.J.Paton, indigenous
Coleus dolichopodus (Briq.) A.J.Paton, indigenous
Coleus esculentus (N.E.Br.) G.Taylor, indigenous
Coleus gibbosus A.J.Paton, endemic
Coleus grandidentatus (Gurke) A.J.Paton, indigenous
Coleus hadiensis (Forssk.) A.J.Paton, indigenous
Coleus hereroensis (Engl.) A.J.Paton, indigenous
Coleus kirkii (Baker) A.J.Paton, indigenous
Coleus lasianthus Gurke, indigenous
Coleus leemannii (N.Hahn) A.J.Paton, endemic
Coleus livingstonei A.J.Paton, indigenous
Coleus madagascariensis (Pers.) A.Chev., indigenous
Coleus mutabilis (Codd) A.J.Paton, endemic
Coleus neochilus (Schltr.) Codd, indigenous
Coleus pentheri Gurke, indigenous
Coleus porcatus (Van Jaarsv. & P.J.D.Winter) A.J.Paton, endemic
Coleus psammophilus (Codd) A.J.Paton, indigenous
Coleus pyramidatus (GÃÂ¼rke) K.Balkwill, endemic
Coleus rotundifolius (Poir.) A.Chev. & Perrot, indigenous
Coleus subspicatus (Hochst.) Walp., indigenous
Coleus tetragonus (Gurke) Robyns & Lebrun, indigenous
Coleus venteri (Van Jaarsv. & Hankey) A.J.Paton, indigenous
Coleus xerophilus (Codd) A.J.Paton, endemic

Endostemon

Genus Endostemon:

Endostemon obtusifolius (E.Mey. ex Benth.) N.E.Br., indigenous
Endostemon tenuiflorus (Benth.) M.Ashby, indigenous
Endostemon tereticaulis (Poir.) M.Ashby, indigenous

Equilabium

Genus Equilabium:

Equilabium dolomiticum (Codd) Mwany. & A.J.Paton, endemic
Equilabium laxiflorum (Benth.) Mwany., A.J.Paton & Culham, indigenous
Equilabium petiolare (Benth.) Mwany. & A.J.Paton, endemic

Hoslundia

Genus Hoslundia:

Hoslundia opposita Vahl, indigenous

Kalaharia

Genus Kalaharia:

Kalaharia uncinata (Schinz) Moldenke, indigenous

Karomia

Genus Karomia:

Karomia speciosa (Hutch. & Corbishley) R.Fern.
Karomia speciosa forma speciosa, indigenous
Karomia speciosa forma flava (Moldenke) R.Fern., indigenous

Killickia

Genus Killickia:

Killickia compacta (Killick) Brauchler, Heubl & Doroszenko, endemic
Killickia grandiflora (Killick) Brauchler, Heubl & Doroszenko, endemic
Killickia lutea Brauchler, endemic
Killickia pilosa (Benth.) Brauchler, Heubl & Doroszenko, endemic

Lamium

Genus Lamium:

Lamium amplexicaule L., naturalised (invasive)
Lamium galeobdolon Crantz, naturalised

Leonotis

Genus Leonotis:

Leonotis leonurus (L.) R.Br. indigenous
Leonotis nepetifolia (L.) R.Br. indigenous
Leonotis ocymifolia (Burm.f.) Iwarsson
Leonotis ocymifolia var. raineriana (Vis.) Iwarsson, indigenous
Leonotis ocymifolia var. schinzii (Gurke) Iwarsson, indigenous

Leucas

Genus Leucas:

Leucas capensis (Benth.) Engl. accepted as Leonotis pentadentata J.C.Manning & Goldblatt, indigenous
Leucas ebracteata Peyr. var. kaokoveldensis Sebald, accepted as Leonotis ebracteata (Peyr.) J.C.Manning & Goldblatt var. kaokoveldensis (Sebald) J.C.Manning & Goldb
Leucas glabrata (Vahl) Sm. accepted as Leonotis glabrata (Vahl) J.C.Manning & Goldblatt, present
Leucas glabrata (Vahl) Sm. var. glabrata, accepted as Leonotis glabrata (Vahl) J.C.Manning & Goldblatt var. glabrata, indigenous
Leucas glabrata (Vahl) Sm. var. linearis Codd, accepted as Leonotis glabrata (Vahl) J.C.Manning & Goldblatt var. linearis (Codd) J.C.Manning & Goldblatt, endemic
Leucas lavandulifolia Sm., naturalised (invasive)
Leucas martinicensis (Jacq.) R.Br. accepted as Leonotis martinicensis (Jacq.) J.C.Manning & Goldblatt, indigenous
Leucas neuflizeana Courbon, accepted as Leonotis neuflizeana (Courbon) J.C.Manning & Goldblatt, indigenous
Leucas pechuelii (Kuntze) Gurke, accepted as Leonotis pechuelii (Kuntze) J.C.Manning & Goldblatt
Leucas sexdentata Skan, accepted as Leonotis sexdentata (Skan) J.C.Manning & Goldblatt, indigenous

Marrubium

Genus Marrubium:

Marrubium vulgare L., naturalised

Mentha

Genus Mentha:

Mentha aquatica L., indigenous
Mentha longifolia (L.) Huds.
Mentha longifolia subsp. capensis (Thunb.) Briq., indigenous
Mentha longifolia subsp. polyadena (Briq.) Briq., endemic
Mentha longifolia subsp. wissii (Launert) Codd, endemic
Mentha pulegium L., naturalised (invasive)

Mesosphaerum

Genus Mesosphaerum:

Mesosphaerum pectinatum (L.) Kuntze, naturalised

Micromeria

Genus Micromeria:

Micromeria imbricata (Forssk.) C.Chr.
Micromeria imbricata var. imbricata, indigenous

Ocimum

Genus Ocimum:

Ocimum x africanum Lour., indigenous
Ocimum americanum L., indigenous
Ocimum angustifolium Benth., indigenous
Ocimum burchellianum Benth., endemic
Ocimum coddii (S.D.Will. & K.Balkwill) A.J.Paton, endemic
Ocimum dolomiticola A.J.Paton, indigenous
Ocimum filamentosum Forssk., indigenous
Ocimum gratissimum L.
Ocimum gratissimum subsp. gratissimum var. gratissimum, indigenous
Ocimum labiatum (N.E.Br.) A.J.Paton, indigenous
Ocimum motjaneanum McCallum & K.Balkwill, indigenous
Ocimum natalense Ayob. ex A.J.Paton, indigenous
Ocimum obovatum E.Mey. ex Benth.
Ocimum obovatum subsp. obovatum var. obovatum, indigenous
Ocimum obovatum subsp. obovatum var. galpinii (Gurke) A.J.Paton, indigenous
Ocimum pseudoserratum (M.Ashby) A.J.Paton, endemic
Ocimum reclinatum (S.D.Will. & K.Balkwill) A.J.Paton, endemic
Ocimum serratum (Schltr.) A.J.Paton, indigenous
Ocimum tubiforme (R.D.Good) A.J.Paton, endemic
Ocimum waterbergense (S.D.Will. & K.Balkwill) A.J.Paton, endemic

Orthosiphon

Genus Orthosiphon:

Orthosiphon fruticosus Codd, endemic
Orthosiphon schimperi Benth., indigenous
Orthosiphon thymiflorus (Roth) Sleesen, indigenous

Platostoma

Genus Platostoma:

Platostoma rotundifolium (Briq.) A.J.Paton, indigenous

Plectranthus

Genus Plectranthus:

Plectranthus ambiguus (Bolus) Codd, indigenous
Plectranthus brevimentum T.J.Edwards, endemic
Plectranthus ciliatus E.Mey. ex Benth., indigenous
Plectranthus ecklonii Benth., endemic
Plectranthus elegantulus Briq., endemic
Plectranthus ernstii Codd, endemic
Plectranthus fruticosus L'Her., indigenous
Plectranthus grallatus Briq., indigenous
Plectranthus hilliardiae Codd
Plectranthus hilliardiae subsp. hilliardiae, indigenous
Plectranthus hilliardiae subsp. australis Van Jaarsv. & A.E.van Wyk, indigenous
Plectranthus lucidus Van Jaarsv. & T.J.Edwards, endemic
Plectranthus malvinus Van Jaarsv. & T.J.Edwards, endemic
Plectranthus mzimvubensis Van Jaarsv., endemic
Plectranthus neochilus Schltr., indigenous
Plectranthus oertendahlii T.C.E.Fr., endemic
Plectranthus oribiensis Codd, endemic
Plectranthus praetermissus Codd, endemic
Plectranthus purpuratus Harv.
Plectranthus purpuratus subsp. purpuratus, indigenous
Plectranthus purpuratus subsp. montanus Van Jaarsv. & T.J.Edwards
Plectranthus purpuratus subsp. tongaensis Van Jaarsv. & T.J.Edwards, endemic
Plectranthus reflexus Van Jaarsv. & T.J.Edwards, endemic
Plectranthus rubropunctatus Codd, indigenous
Plectranthus saccatus Benth.
Plectranthus saccatus var. saccatus, endemic
Plectranthus saccatus var. longitubus Codd, endemic
Plectranthus saccatus subsp. pondoensis Van Jaarsv. & Milstein, endemic
Plectranthus strigosus Benth., indigenous
Plectranthus stylesii T.J.Edwards, endemic
Plectranthus swynnertonii S.Moore, indigenous
Plectranthus verticillatus (L.f.) Druce, indigenous
Plectranthus zuluensis T.Cooke, indigenous

Premna

Genus Premna:

Premna mooiensis (H.Pearson) W.Piep., indigenous

Prunella

Genus Prunella:

Prunella vulgaris L., naturalised (invasive)

Pseudodictamnus

Genus Pseudodictamnus:

Pseudodictamnus africanus (L.) Salmaki & Siadati, indigenous

Rotheca

Genus Rotheca:

Rotheca caerulea (N.E.Br.) P.P.J.Herman & Retief, endemic
Rotheca cuneiformis (Moldenke) P.P.J.Herman & Retief, endemic
Rotheca hirsuta (Hochst.) R.Fern.
Rotheca hirsuta forma hirsuta, indigenous
Rotheca hirsuta forma triphylla (Harv.) Fernald, indigenous
Rotheca louwalbertsii (P.P.J.Herman) P.P.J.Herman & Retief, indigenous
Rotheca myricoides (Hochst.) Steane & Mabb.
Rotheca myricoides subsp. myricoides var. myricoides, indigenous
Rotheca pilosa (H.Pearson) P.P.J.Herman & Retief, endemic
Rotheca suffuticosa (Gurke) Verdc., indigenous
Rotheca violacea (Gurke) Verdc., indigenous
Rotheca wildii (Moldenke) R.Fern.
Rotheca wildii forma glabra (R.Fern.) R.Fern., indigenous

Salvia

Genus Salvia:

Salvia africana L., endemic
Salvia albicaulis Benth., endemic
Salvia aurea L., endemic
Salvia aurita L.f.
Salvia aurita var. aurita, endemic
Salvia aurita var. galpinii (Skan) Hedge, indigenous
Salvia chamelaeagnea P.J.Bergius, endemic
Salvia coccinea Etl., naturalised
Salvia dentata Aiton, indigenous
Salvia disermas L., indigenous
Salvia dolomitica Codd, endemic
Salvia garipensis E.Mey. ex Benth. = Salvia gariepensis sensu POWO (orth. var.), indigenous
Salvia granitica Hochst., endemic
Salvia lanceolata Lam., indigenous
Salvia muirii L.Bolus, endemic
Salvia namaensis Schinz, indigenous
Salvia obtusata Thunb., endemic
Salvia radula Benth., indigenous
Salvia reflexa Hornem., naturalised (invasive)
Salvia repens Burch. ex Benth.
Salvia repens var. keiensis Hedge, endemic
Salvia repens var. repens, indigenous
Salvia repens var. transvaalensis Hedge, indigenous
Salvia runcinata L.f., indigenous
Salvia scabra L.f., endemic
Salvia schlechteri Briq., endemic
Salvia sclarea L., naturalised (invasive)
Salvia stenophylla Burch. ex Benth., indigenous
Salvia thermarum Van Jaarsv., endemic
Salvia tiliifolia Vahl, naturalised (invasive)
Salvia triangularis Thunb., endemic
Salvia tysonii Skan, endemic
Salvia verbenaca L., naturalised (invasive)

Satureja

Genus Satureja:

Satureja thymbra L., naturalised

Scutellaria

Genus Scutellaria:

Scutellaria racemosa Pers., naturalised (invasive)

Stachys

Genus Stachys:

Stachys aethiopica L., indigenous
Stachys afra E.Mey. ex Benth., endemic
Stachys albiflora N.E.Br., endemic
Stachys arachnoidea Codd, indigenous
Stachys arvensis L., naturalised
Stachys aurea Benth., indigenous
Stachys bolusii Skan, endemic
Stachys burchelliana Launert, indigenous
Stachys comosa Codd, endemic
Stachys cuneata Banks ex Benth., endemic
Stachys cymbalaria Briq., endemic
Stachys dregeana Benth., indigenous
Stachys erectiuscula Gurke, endemic
Stachys flavescens Benth., endemic
Stachys flexuosa Skan, endemic
Stachys graciliflora C.Presl, indigenous
Stachys grandifolia E.Mey. ex Benth., indigenous
Stachys humifusa Burch. ex Benth., endemic
Stachys hyssopoides Burch. ex Benth., endemic
Stachys kuntzei Gurke, indigenous
Stachys lallaniana R.Kr.Singh & Sanjeet Kumar, endemic
Stachys lamarckii Benth., indigenous
Stachys linearis Burch. ex Benth., indigenous
Stachys natalensis Hochst.
Stachys natalensis var. natalensis, indigenous
Stachys natalensis var. galpinii (Briq.) Codd, indigenous
Stachys nigricans Benth., indigenous
Stachys obtusifolia MacOwan, endemic
Stachys rehmannii Skan, endemic
Stachys reticulata Codd, endemic
Stachys rivularis J.M.Wood & M.S.Evans, endemic
Stachys rudatisii Skan, endemic
Stachys rugosa Aiton, indigenous
Stachys scabrida Skan, endemic
Stachys sessilifolia E.Mey. ex Benth., endemic
Stachys sessilis Gurke, indigenous
Stachys simplex Schltr., indigenous
Stachys spathulata Burch. ex Benth., indigenous
Stachys sublobata Skan, endemic
Stachys thunbergii Benth., endemic
Stachys tubulosa MacOwan, indigenous
Stachys tysonii Skan, indigenous
Stachys zeyheri Skan, endemic

Syncolostemon

Genus Syncolostemon:

Syncolostemon albiflorus (N.E.Br.) D.F.Otieno, indigenous
Syncolostemon argenteus N.E.Br., endemic
Syncolostemon aurulentus Ngwenya, endemic
Syncolostemon bolusii (N.E.Br.) D.F.Otieno, endemic
Syncolostemon bracteosus (Benth.) D.F.Otieno
Syncolostemon bracteosus var. bracteosus, indigenous
Syncolostemon canescens (Gurke) D.F.Otieno, indigenous
Syncolostemon cinereus (Codd) D.F.Otieno & Retief, endemic
Syncolostemon concinnus N.E.Br., indigenous
Syncolostemon densiflorus Benth., endemic
Syncolostemon elliottii (Baker) D.F.Otieno, indigenous
Syncolostemon eriocephalus I.Verd., endemic
Syncolostemon foliosus (S.Moore) D.F.Otieno, indigenous
Syncolostemon gerrardii (N.E.Br.) D.F.Otieno, endemic
Syncolostemon heterophyllus (Gurke) K.Balkwill, endemic
Syncolostemon incanus (Codd) D.F.Otieno, endemic
Syncolostemon latidens (N.E.Br.) Codd, endemic
Syncolostemon linearis (Benth.) D.F.Otieno, indigenous
Syncolostemon macranthus (Gurke) M.Ashby, endemic
Syncolostemon macrophyllus Gurke, endemic
Syncolostemon modestus (Codd) D.F.Otieno, indigenous
Syncolostemon muddii (N.E.Br.) K.Balkwill, endemic
Syncolostemon ngwenyi K.Balkwill, endemic
Syncolostemon obermeyerae (M.Ashby) D.F.Otieno, endemic
Syncolostemon parviflorus E.Mey. ex Benth.
Syncolostemon parviflorus var. lanceolatus (Gurke) Codd, indigenous
Syncolostemon parviflorus var. parviflorus, indigenous
Syncolostemon parvifolius (Codd) D.F.Otieno, endemic
Syncolostemon persimilis (N.E.Br.) D.F.Otieno, endemic
Syncolostemon petiolatus (M.Ashby) D.F.Otieno, indigenous
Syncolostemon pretoriae (Gurke) D.F.Otieno
Syncolostemon pretoriae var. longitubus K.Balkwill, endemic
Syncolostemon pretoriae var. pretoriae, indigenous
Syncolostemon punctatus (Codd) D.F.Otieno, endemic
Syncolostemon qudeniensis D.F.Otieno, endemic
Syncolostemon ramosus (Codd) D.F.Otieno, endemic
Syncolostemon ramulosus E.Mey. ex Benth., endemic
Syncolostemon rectiflorus K.Balkwill, endemic
Syncolostemon rehmannii (Gurke) D.F.Otieno, endemic
Syncolostemon rotundifolius E.Mey. ex Benth., endemic
Syncolostemon rugosifolius (M.Ashby) D.F.Otieno, endemic
Syncolostemon stalmansii (A.J.Paton & K.Balkwill) D.F.Otieno, indigenous
Syncolostemon stenophyllus (Gurke) D.F.Otieno, endemic
Syncolostemon subvelutinus (Gurke) D.F.Otieno, endemic
Syncolostemon teucriifolius (Hochst.) D.F.Otieno, indigenous
Syncolostemon thorncroftii (N.E.Br.) D.F.Otieno, indigenous
Syncolostemon transvaalensis (Schltr.) D.F.Otieno, endemic

Tetradenia

Genus Tetradenia:

Tetradenia bainesii (N.E.Br.) Phillipson & C.F.Steyn, indigenous
Tetradenia barberae (N.E.Br.) Codd, endemic
Tetradenia brevispicata (N.E.Br.) Codd, indigenous
Tetradenia galpinii (N.E.Br.) Phillipson & C.F.Steyn, indigenous
Tetradenia riparia (Hochst.) Codd, indigenous
Tetradenia tuberosa T.J.Edwards, endemic

Teucrium

Genus Teucrium:

Teucrium africanum Thunb., endemic
Teucrium kraussii Codd, indigenous
Teucrium trifidum Retz., indigenous

Thorncroftia

Genus Thorncroftia:

Thorncroftia coddii Changwe & K.Balkwill, endemic
Thorncroftia greenii Changwe & K.Balkwill, endemic
Thorncroftia longiflora N.E.Br., indigenous
Thorncroftia lotteri T.J.Edwards, endemic
Thorncroftia media Codd, endemic
Thorncroftia succulenta (R.A.Dyer & E.A.Bruce) Codd, endemic
Thorncroftia thorncroftii (S.Moore) Codd, indigenous

Tinnea

Genus Tinnea:

Tinnea barbata Vollesen, indigenous
Tinnea galpinii Briq., indigenous
Tinnea rhodesiana S.Moore, indigenous

Vitex

Genus Vitex:

Vitex ferruginea Schumach. & Thonn., indigenous
Vitex harveyana H.Pearson, indigenous
Vitex obovata E.Mey.
Vitex obovata subsp. obovata, indigenous
Vitex obovata subsp. wilmsii (Gurke) Bredenk. & D.J.Botha, indigenous
Vitex patula E.A.Bruce, indigenous
Vitex pooara Corbishley, endemic
Vitex rehmannii Gurke, indigenous
Vitex trifolia L., naturalised (invasive)
Vitex zeyheri Sond., indigenous

Volkameria

Genus Volkameria:

Volkameria glabra (E.Mey.) Mabb. & Y.W.Yuan, indigenous