Greek solen — tube, stemon — stamen
Prostrate or spreading, often hairy and succulent herbs and subshrubs. Leaves generally variously mottled or variegated. Flower clusters terminal. Flowers with calyx 2-lipped and with 5 teeth, the uppermost largest and erect. Corolla tube 2-lipped, s-shaped, upper lip with 4 small lobes, lower lip larger than the upper and boat-shaped. Stamens 4, attached at the mouth of the tube, united shortly at the base.
The popular bedding and florists' Coleus with rich multicoloured variegations, the margins sometimes cut and frilled, is now included in this genus. This plant has been known under the names Coleus blumei Benth. and C. ×hybridus Voss; it has a complex hybrid background with S. scutellarioides a major parent. Popular seed lines have been developed and those recently available include Fashion Parade Mixed, Fiji Mixed, Flamex Formula Mixed, Masterblend and Rainbow Masterblend. Cultivars are best listed under the genus name.
Seed; cultivars and species also by softwood cuttings.
Stamens fused at the base into a tube around the style.
About 60 species from tropical Africa and Asia.
Pedley & Pedley (1974), Codd (1975).
Source: (2002). Salvia. In: . Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia. Volume 4. Flowering plants. Dicotyledons. Part 3. The identification of garden and cultivated plants. University of New South Wales Press.
