CCCLVI.—TUBEROUS LABIAT E. 
It has long been known that certain hien of Labiate have tuberous 
rootstocks, and also that two or three of them were cultivated in the 
East for the sake of their tubers, but it is only during the last ten years 
that Europeans have given much attention to these plants as a possible 
source of fo n enumeration of those species of the two principal 
genera yielding tubers, viz., Coleus and Plectranthus, will be useful 
as indicating what species might be found worthy of experimental 
cultivation. 
The earliest record of the use of the tubers of a labiate plant as ar 
article of food, is by Rumphius in his Herbariun Amboinense, vol. 5, 
p. 972 (published in 1750, although written over 50 years previously, 
according to the author's preface, which is dated 1695). Rumphius 
describes and ures a Jabiate plant under the name of * Gans terrestris 
costensis,” stating that it was cultivated in Java, Amboina, &c., and the 
tubers cooked in various ways and eaten. This is Coleus tuberosus, 
Benth., which seems to be very little known in Europe up to the present 
time. The next records of — tuberous Labiate are respectively 
those of Plectranthus ternatus, in 1824; Coleus tuber osus, Rich., not 
- of Benth. (C. edulis, Vatke) in 1851; Coleus barbatus, in 1861, and 
Stach; ys Sieboldi ves Eran Naud), in 1885, which is closely allied 
ustr 
h 
Plectranthus are dealt with that are known or stated to produce tubers, 
with the exception of two new species, which from their habit are in 
all probability haan and are therefore included. 
Coleus barbatus, Benth. in Wall, Pl. Asiat. Rar. ii, p. 15 and in 
DC. Prod xii., p. 71; Dalz. and Gibs. Bombay FI. p. 205. 
Wo eg Forskolei, Willd. Sp. Pi. ii, p. 169 ; Bot. Mag. 
eee barbatus, Andr. Bot. Rep. t. 594. 
A native of India, Arabia and East Tropical Afric 
According to Dalzell and Gibson's F lora, and a label of Dr. Ritchie’s 
in the Kew Herbari ium, this plant is cultivated in the Deccan for the 
sake of its fleshy roots, which are pickled by the natives. | 
Coleus dysentericus, Baker.—Radice tuberosa globosa, caulibus 
xS erectis ramosis inermes "—— vel emnes foliis petiolatis 
calycis tubo campanulato dente superiore magno ovato, reliquis parvis 
ovatis, corolla parva extus pilosa. 
AB.—Niger region, Zomba, Barter, 846. 
^^ "€aulis subpedalis. Folii petiolus 1 14 poll. longus, lamina e poll. 
- longa, 2-14 poll. lata. Calyx floriferus 1 lin. longus. Corolla 2) lin. 
arter makes the following statement on his label : —* Root füberbus; 
* 1 foot. This is cultivated and used in cases of dysentery. Zomba 
* name * Krodyn. ”- 'The tuber attached to the specimen is about an 
inch in diameter, is fleshy, and the cells are densely filled with starch. 
