Spur Flower
Plectranthus ??
Heavily grazed rocky slope near Voi, Eldoret, Kenya. 28 May 2017.
LEAVES: The opposite leaves are broadly elliptic and have
crenate margins. Leaves are not
as thick as other Plectranthus. Strongly aromatic.
SHRUBBY: Primarily herbaceous with perhaps a bit of woody base.
Plants were mostly less than 1 meter tall.
FLOWERS: The flowers are arranged in rings about an upright spike. Each
flower is bilaterally symmetric with a distinct dorsal spur. The lower lips are pale blue, the upper dark blue.
RANGE: One of many species of Plectranthus recorded in Kenya. Their abundance is related to the fact that grazing cattle and goats avoid them.
FRUIT: Conspicuous, long-acuminate sepals enclose the developing seed capsules.
UNARMED.