''Karomia speciosa'' is an
African deciduous large shrub or bushy tree up to 7 m, and relocated to the family
Lamiaceae
The Lamiaceae ( )
or Labiatae are a family of flowering plants commonly known as the mint, deadnettle or sage family. Many of the plants are aromatic in all parts and include widely used culinary herbs like basil, mint, rosemary, sage, savory ...
from
Verbenaceae. It is one of 9 species in the genus ''
Karomia'', a genus containing species previously classified in ''
Holmskioldia'', and is closely related to ''
Clerodendrum''. The only remaining species in the genus is ''
Holmskioldia sanguinea
''Holmskioldia'' is a genus of flowering plants in the mint family, Lamiaceae. It is native to the Himalayas (India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar) but widely cultivated as an ornamental and naturalized in many places (Southeast As ...
'', occurring in the foothills of the
Himalayas.
''Karomia speciosa'' is found in the northern parts of
South Africa,
Eswatini
Eswatini ( ; ss, eSwatini ), officially the Kingdom of Eswatini and formerly named Swaziland ( ; officially renamed in 2018), is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. It is bordered by Mozambique to its northeast and South Africa to its no ...
and north into tropical Africa and
Madagascar, growing in bush or wooded areas on hot, dry, rocky slopes and riverine thickets. Producing showy, mauve and purple flowers in profusion, the species is either single- or multi-stemmed, with pale, smooth grayish-brown bark. The softly pubescent leaves have coarsely toothed margins, are dark green above and a paler green below. The papery calyx is dusty-pink or mauve in colour, while the bilabiate corolla is deep-blue or violet.
References
External links
GalleryKristin Bain watercolour
{{Taxonbar, from=Q15336083
Lamiaceae
Shrubs
Flora of Africa
Plants described in 1920