Coleus; flame nettle; painted leaves

Japanese: コレウス（英語表記）Coleus; flame nettle; painted leaves

A general term for the genus Coleus in the family Lamiaceae. Approximately 150 species are found in a wide range, including the tropical and subtropical regions of Asia, Australia, the South Pacific Islands, and Africa. Many natural hybrid mutants and horticultural varieties, such as C. blumei and C. pumilus, are cultivated as ornamental plants from summer to autumn. Although it is originally a perennial plant, it is often treated as a spring-sown annual in horticulture. It is characterized by a variety of leaf colors, including green, red, orange, yellow, purple-brown, and cream, and many horticultural varieties are bicolored. The leaves are pointed, oval, bluntly sawtoothed, and opposite. Some varieties have wavy leaf surfaces or many incisions. The small, bluish-purple flowers are two-lipped and form spikes, but have little ornamental value. The plant height is 20 to 80 cm. It prefers partial shade, and prolonged exposure to direct sunlight in midsummer can cause leaf burn. Once the flower spikes form, the leaves will lose their color, so it is best to remove them early. They are sensitive to dehydration, so care must be taken. They can be easily propagated by cuttings.

Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica Concise Encyclopedia About Encyclopaedia Britannica Concise Encyclopedia Information

Japanese:

シソ科コレウス属の総称。アジアの熱帯から亜熱帯，オーストラリア，南太平洋諸島，アフリカなど広い範囲に約 150種が分布する。キンランジソ (ニシキジソ) C.blumei，コモンソウ C.pumilusなどの自然交雑による変異種や園芸品種が夏から秋にかけての観葉植物として，数多く栽培されている。本来，多年草であるが，園芸的には春まき一年草として扱うことが多い。緑色，赤色，橙色，黄色，紫褐色，クリーム色などの多彩な葉色が特徴で，園芸品種の多くは複色である。葉は先のとがった卵円形で鈍鋸歯があり，対生する。葉面が波打ったり，切れ込みの多く入る品種もある。小さな青紫色の花は2唇形で，穂状花序を形成するが観賞価値はあまりない。草丈は 20～80cm。半日陰を好み，真夏に長時間直射日光を当てると葉焼けの原因になる。花穂ができると葉色が悪くなるので，早めに摘み取ったほうがよい。水切れに弱いので注意を要する。挿芽で容易にふやすことができる。

出典　ブリタニカ国際大百科事典小項目事典ブリタニカ国際大百科事典小項目事典について　情報

<<: Coleochaete (English spelling)

>>: Choleic Acid - Cholesan