Hoslundia

Hoslundia is a genus of flowering plant in the family Lamiaceae, first described in 1804. It contains only one known species, Hoslundia opposita. It is widespread across much of sub-Saharan Africa.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15]}

Hoslundia
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Asterids
Order:	Lamiales
Family:	Lamiaceae
Subfamily:	Nepetoideae
Tribe:	Ocimeae
Genus:	Hoslundia Vahl
Species:	H. opposita
Binomial name
Hoslundia opposita Vahl
Synonyms[1]
Haaslundia Schumach. & Thonn. Micranthes Bertol. (1858), non Haw. (1812) Hoslundia verticillata Vahl Hoslundia oppositifolia P.Beauv. Hoslundia decumbens Benth. Orthosiphon physocalycinus A.Rich. Micranthes menthoides Bertol. Premna longipes Baker Clerodendrum micranthum Gilli

Description

Spreading, erect or subscandent shrub-like perennial herb up to 3–4 m tall, often regenerating and flowering after fire. Stems and branches sharply 4-angled; branches opposite. Leaves with strong and rather unpleasant smell; petiolate, opposite or sometimes ternate, blade grey-green, ovate-lanceolate to ovate-elliptic, 35-70 x 18-25 mm; apex acute, base cuneate; velvety; margin serrate; petiole short. Flowers in terminal, rather lax panicles or racemes. Calyx 5-toothed, 4 mm long at flowering; teeth narrow, about 1 mm long; tube cylindric, becoming globose and fleshy in fruit. Corolla bilabiate, white or cream, 6–7 mm long; tube straight, subcylindric; upper lip short, erect, 1 mm long, 3-lobed; lower lip patent, a little longer. Fruit fleshy, ovoid, ribbed, bright orange when ripe; edible and are relished by birds.

Distribution

Widespread in tropical Africa — Senegal to Eritrea and Somalia, through Africa south to South Africa and Madagascar.