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 var. kolweziensis Meerts & A. J. Paton var. nov. Fig. 4 A – C Type. DR. Congo , Haut-Katanga , Piste Nzilo-Kyamasumba , 10 ° 30 ' 29 " S , 25 ° 26 ' 12 " E , 1435 m elev., 1 Mar 1987 , M. Schaijes 3354 ( BR [ BR 0000021718298 ], photos) . Diagnosis. Differs from the type in the following combination of traits: thyrses borne on pairs of ascending branches, at the 2–5 upper nodes of the stem, forming a panicle; bracts broadly ovate-elliptic, ca. 5 × 3 mm , 5 - veined; rhizome creeping; stem leafy at flowering; leaves narrowly obovate, < 15 mm wide, pubescent on veins beneath, very shortly pubescent above. Etymology. All collections of this variety originate from the region of Kolwezi in western Upper Katanga . Distribution. Endemic to SE DR. Congo ( Haut-Katanga ). Habitat and ecology. Steppic savannah, dry woodland, rocky slopes; 1300–1475 m elev. Additional specimens. DR. Congo , Haut-Katanga , Env. de Sakabinda, sources de la Kengere, 9 Apr 1971 , S. Lisowski 23304 ( POZG ); Env. Kolwezi, près du village Muilu, 8 Apr 1971 , S. Lisowski 23703 ( POZG ); without locality, 1937, Salésiens 1264 ( BR ); 19 km SSE of Kolwezi, 13 Mar 1983 , M . Schaijes 1873 ( BR ); Piste Kolwezi-Musokantanda (Plateau de la Manika), 10 ° 48 ' 42 " S , 25 ° 15 ' 59 " E , 19 Feb 1989 , M . Schaijes 4305 ( BR ); Coleus esculentus var. kolweziensis Meerts & A. J. Paton A habit B detail of inflorescence and bracts C detail of calyx A M. Schaijes 3354 B, C Breyne 1197 . Drawn by Hilde Orye. Scale bars: 1 cm ( A ); 5 mm ( B ); 2 mm ( C ). Note. This new variety has a restricted distribution range in the region of Kolwezi.