Plectranthus esculentus N.E.Br.

Erect herb or suffrutex from a tuberous-rooted base; stems 1-several arising annually, sparingly branched, 0.6-1.2 m tall, usually leafless at flowering. Leaves fairly thick-textured, subsessile; blade oblong-elliptic to oblanceolate, 50-80 x 13-25 mm, scabrid, under-surface with brown gland-dots, apex obtuse to rounded, base obtuse to cuneate, margin obscurely denticulate. Inflorescences occupying the upper 0.2-0.6 m of the stem, consisting of 2-4 short racemes (occasionally branched) from each node; flowers solitary in the axil of each bract; bracts persistent; pedicels 2-5 mm long. Calyx 9-10 mm long in fruit, glandular-hispidulous, 5-toothed, the upper tooth the largest. Corolla yellow, 14-16 mm long; tube geniculate, expanding above the middle; upper lip 2 mm long; lower lip deeply boat-shaped, 7-8 mm long. Stamens usually united at the base, 6-7 mm long.

A tropical plant. It grows naturally in southern tropical Africa. It grows in dry rocky and sandy soils. It grows between 600-1,900 m above sea level. It is hardy and needs frost free conditions. The best conditions for growth are 15-28°C. They need an annual rainfall of 700-1,100 mm. A soil pH of 6.5-7 is suitable. It can grow in arid places.

The tubers are boiled and often added to other vegetables in soups. The tubers are washed then boiled in their skins. They can be dried and stored. They can also be pickled.

Plants are normally grown from cuttings. It can be grown from tubers and small bulbils in the axils.