coleus

/koh"lee euhs/, n., pl. coleuses.

any of several tropical Asian or African plants belonging to the genus Coleus, of the mint family, certain species of which are cultivated for their showy, colored foliage and blue flowers.

[1865-70; < NL < Gk koleós, var. of KOLEÓN sheath, scabbard; akin to CONCEAL, HULL¹]

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Any member of the Old World tropical plant genus Coleus, containing about 150 species, in the mint family, best known for its colourful foliage.

Varieties of C. blumei, from Java, are well-known houseplants and garden plants. They have square stems and small, blue, two-lipped flowers in spikes. Bush coleus (C. thrysoideus), from Central Africa, produces sprays of bright blue flowers. Others are variously known as flame nettle, painted leaves, painted nettle, Spanish thyme, Indian borage, country borage, and flowering bush.

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▪ plant genus

 Old World tropical plant genus of about 150 species, of the mint family (Lamiaceae), order Lamiales, best known for members with colourful foliage. Varieties of C. blumei, from Java, are well-known house and garden plants up to one metre (three feet) tall. They have square stems and two-lipped flowers, which in C. blumei are small, blue, and in spikes.

      Bush coleus (C. thrysoideus), from Central Africa, reaches one metre and produces seven-centimetre (about three-inch) sprays of bright blue flowers. Others are variously known as flame nettle, painted leaves, painted nettle, Spanish thyme, Indian borage, country borage, and flowering bush.

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