The genus Coleus (Lamiaceae) in Central Africa (Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, Burundi), with the description of 15 new species Author Meerts, Pierre J. 0000-0003-4215-027X Meise Botanic Garden, Nieuwelaan 38, BE- 1860 Meise, Belgium & Université Libre de Bruxelles, Av. F. D. Roosevelt 50 CP 244, BE- 1050 Brussels, Belgium & Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles, Service général de l’Enseignement supérieur et de la Recherche scientifique, Brussels, Belgium Author Paton, Alan J. 0000-0002-6052-6675 The Herbarium, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond TW 9 3 AB, UK text PhytoKeys 2024 2024-09-02 246 71 178 journal article 302074 10.3897/phytokeys.246.129476 b381880a-e0bb-4b02-ad0f-2f90a0b6c995 Coleus esculentus (N. E. Br.) G. Taylor , J. Bot. 69 (suppl. 2): 158. 1931. ≡ Plectranthus esculentus N. E. Br. , Bull. Misc. Inform. Kew 1894: 12. 1894 . Type: cultivated at K from material sent by J. Medley Wood from KwaZulu-Natal , 1893 ( lectotype K [ K 000975993 ], designated by Codd (1975) ; isolectotype BOL ). Note. Our treatment of C. esculentus departs from recent floras, which recognised two species ( C. esculentus and C. densus ). Variation in DR. Congo is complex, comprising morphs difficult to accommodate into such a scheme. We recognise one species comprising four varieties, including a new one. Evidence from molecular markers is needed to test the validity of this treatment.