Coleus aromaticus, Coleus barbatus, Coleus spicatus.

Coleus aromaticus Benth. Labiatae. Coleus. Country Borage.

East Indies. This is the country borage of India. Every part of the plant is delightfully fragrant, and the leaves are frequently eaten and mixed with various articles of food in India. In Burma, it is in common use as a potherb. A purple coleus was observed in cultivation in northern Japan by Miss Bird, the leaves of which are eaten as spinach.

Coleus barbatus Benth.

East Indies and tropical Africa. About Bombay, this species is commonly cultivated in the gardens of the natives for the roots, which are pickled.

Coleus spicatus Benth.

East Indies. Wilkinson quotes Pliny as saying that the Egyptians grew this plant for making chaplets and for food.


Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World, 1919, was edited by U. P. Hedrick.