Coleus namuliensis and Coleus caudatus (Lamiaceae):a new species and a new combination in the Afromontane flora of Mozambique and Zimbabwe

Abstract

The new species Coleus namuliensis (Lamiaceae) is described from the granite outcrops and grasslands of Mt Namuli in Zambezia Province of Mozambique. It has previously been confused with Plectranthus caudatus, a species that is restricted to the quartzite outcrops of the Chimanimani Mountains on the Mozambique-Zimbabwe border for which the new combination in Coleus is formalised in this paper. Other potential confusion species are discussed and a rationale for applying the generic name Coleus rather than Plectranthus is provided. Despite their highly restricted ranges, C. namuliensis and C. caudatus are both considered to have a conservation status of Least Concern at present, although climate change may pose a longer-term threat to their survival.