Identification: Un-mint

Discussion in 'Indoor and Greenhouse Plants' started by globalist1789, Sep 8, 2006.

  1. globalist1789

    globalist1789 Active Member

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    Hi all,

    Sorry no camera, but it wouldn't help a lot anyway.

    A co-worker gave me a plant that looks very, very mint like (so the pic wouldn't help a lot). It's stem is pretty heavy and fuzzy, and leaves are fleshier and fuzzier than any mint I've seen. The smell, while slightly minty is also pungent and "spicy".

    The plant was brought here from Gujarat, india. They call it "udjmoh". Couldn't find it anywhere online. I checked with a Punjabi man I know and called it "Hajwan" (not Ajuwain). It is a medicinal/religious herb. I've tried every permutation of the spellings that I could think of, and zip.

    Any help would be fantastic.
    Michael
     
  2. Ron B

    Ron B Paragon of Plants 10 Years

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    Maybe next try someone you know with a digital camera. If you can get an image up you will probably find out what it is, otherwise maybe not.
     
  3. Michael F

    Michael F Paragon of Plants Forums Moderator 10 Years

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    Have you got a flatbed scanner? If yes, put a piece of the plant on it and scan it; that'll make a very good photo.
     
  4. Junglekeeper

    Junglekeeper Esteemed Contributor 10 Years

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    The Encyclopedia of Indian Medicinal Plants available at The Foundation for Revitalisation of Local Health Traditions (FRLHT) has a comprehensive collection of vernacular names. 'Ajwan', 'Ajuan', and 'Ajwain' is present but there was no match on the other two terms. How about 'Ajmod', 'Ajmot', and 'Ajmud'? It's worth a closer look. The database can be accessed by http://envis.frlht.org.in/ or http://www.medicinalplants.in/.
     
  5. globalist1789

    globalist1789 Active Member

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    Thanks for the link, Junglekeeper. But I struck out. All the plants with similar names are listed as APIACEAE (Parsley/carrot family). This plant just isn't part of that family.

    Let's just forget what my friend told me. I'll write it off as traditional, "folk" misinformation. I'll us my own observations here.

    Does anyone know of a mint or close relative that has fleshier, velvety leaves and a much thicker velvety stalk? It has the same habit as the mints that I have but a much "softer" appearance.

    Michael
     
  6. Ron B

    Ron B Paragon of Plants 10 Years

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    Horsemint?
     
  7. Daniel Mosquin

    Daniel Mosquin Paragon of Plants UBC Botanical Garden Forums Administrator Forums Moderator 10 Years

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    Or a mint family look-alike? Possibly something in the [WIKI]Acanthaceae[/WIKI]?
     
  8. globalist1789

    globalist1789 Active Member

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    Nope. Sorry. The good news is that the guy who gave me the plant is going to snap photos for me. Only fair, really.
     
  9. Eric La Fountaine

    Eric La Fountaine Contributor Forums Moderator 10 Years

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    Plectranthus amboinicus or another Plectranthus? Sometimes refered to as a "blank mint." Fill in the blank with your choice of nationality. I think it is commonly grown in India.
     
  10. Ron B

    Ron B Paragon of Plants 10 Years

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    Plectranthus was actually going to be my first suggestion. If a good picture appears we can stop casting around.
     
  11. globalist1789

    globalist1789 Active Member

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    Drum roll please...... Note the thick stalk and fuzziness.
     

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  12. Ron B

    Ron B Paragon of Plants 10 Years

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    Plectranthus or relation.
     
  13. globalist1789

    globalist1789 Active Member

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    Thanks a lot folks. It is really appreciated. Eric, you hit hit it right on the head, Plectranthus amboinicus. Being able to do that from my scant description is quite a feat. And might I say, WOW! could a plant have more common names then this stuff?

    Thanks again,
    M.
     
  14. Ron B

    Ron B Paragon of Plants 10 Years

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    It was a likely suspect, grown and used by many. Another common name is Cuban oregano.
     
  15. maximus

    maximus Active Member

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  16. mosscampion

    mosscampion Active Member

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    I'm confused too. :) My dad gave me cuttings a couple of months ago of an herb he calls "Puerto Rican Oregano" (not a real oregano I understand). In my searches to find the true latin name, I settled on Plectranthus amboinicus, although I didn't feel 100% confident. Here's a photo...btw the stems are square. Any ideas?

    Clarification: My inquiry is whether my plant pictured here is the same as the plant in question in this thread...I realize that the common name "Puerto Rican Oregano" is one of MANY and really has no bearing on my identification; it's just what my dad called the plant. Thanks! :)
     

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  17. Eric La Fountaine

    Eric La Fountaine Contributor Forums Moderator 10 Years

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    There is quite a bit of variation in this plant, but I am not so sure about Maximus' plant.
     
  18. maximus

    maximus Active Member

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    im thinking its a variation, i remember my father saying its called all-in-one here in Australia, then someone posted a reply saying its got the name of 3-in-one/five-in-one/all-in-one herb herb here in Australia, or Plectranthus amboinicus, or if you prefer Solenostemon amboinicus.. so i did wat any normal person would do.... googled it! haha heres some sites with information and pictures, the pictures match the one i have, same furry leaves, and purple flowers.. so check it out

    http://zipcodezoo.com/Plants/S/Solenostemon_amboinicus.asp

    http://toptropicals.com/catalog/uid/Solenostemon_amboinicus.htm

    http://www.hear.org/pier/species/plectranthus_amboinicus.htm
     
  19. TonyR

    TonyR Active Member

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    That is probably so, Eric, but the variation will appear even greater to those who confuse it with the quite distantly related Plectranthus neochilus, a member of the P. caninus complex. I have got the impression that that species is often called"Cuban oregano" in the US (and Canada?).

    I am fairly sure Maximus's plant is the true P. amboinicus.
     
  20. Eric La Fountaine

    Eric La Fountaine Contributor Forums Moderator 10 Years

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    Thanks TonyR,

    I see there are a lot of types of Plectranthus. I am sure you know the plant better than I. I was making the suggestion more from culinary knowledge than botanical, and yes both species appear to be sold in N. America as Cuban oregano or some other common name. With such variation, it is really hard to ID them. I see your point about the flowers. Do you think the others in the thread are P. neochilus, P.amboinicus, or another Plectranthus sp.?
     

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