Lamiaceae ( or Labiatae are a family of flowering plants in the order Lamiales commonly known as the mint or deadnettle or sage family. Many of the plants are aromatic in all parts and include widely used culinary herbs. Some species are shrubs, trees (such as teak), or, rarely, vines. The family has a cosmopolitan distribution. The enlarged Lamiaceae contain about 236 genera and have been stated to contain 6,900 to 7,200 species, but the World Checklist lists 7,534.
23,420 species of vascular plant have been recorded in South Africa, making it the sixth most species-rich country in the world and the most species-rich country on the African continent. Of these, 153 species are considered to be threatened. Nine biomes have been described in South Africa: Fynbos, Succulent Karoo, desert, Nama Karoo, grassland, savanna, Albany thickets, the Indian Ocean coastal belt, and forests.
The 2018 South African National Biodiversity Institute's National Biodiversity Assessment plant checklist lists 35,130 taxa in the phyla Anthocerotophyta (hornworts (6)), Anthophyta (flowering plants (33534)), Bryophyta (mosses (685)), Cycadophyta (cycads (42)), Lycopodiophyta (Lycophytes(45)), Marchantiophyta (liverworts (376)), Pinophyta (conifers (33)), and Pteridophyta (cryptogams (408)).
49 genera are represented in the literature. Listed taxa include species, subspecies, varieties, and forms as recorded, some of which have subsequently been allocated to other taxa as synonyms, in which cases the accepted taxon is appended to the listing. Multiple entries under alternative names reflect taxonomic revision over time.
Acrocephalus
Genus Acrocephalus: Acrocephalus sericeus Briq. accepted as Haumaniastrum sericeum (Briq.) A.J.Paton
Acrotome
Genus Acrotome: Acrotome angustifolia G.Taylor, indigenous Acrotome hispida Benth. indigenous Acrotome inflata Benth. indigenous Acrotome pallescens Benth. indigenous Acrotome thorncroftii Skan, indigenous
Aeollanthus
Genus Aeollanthus: Aeollanthus buchnerianus Briq. indigenous Aeollanthus neglectus (Dinter) Launert, indigenous Aeollanthus parvifolius Benth. indigenous Aeollanthus rehmannii Gurke, indigenous Aeollanthus suaveolens Mart. ex Spreng. indigenous
Ajuga
Genus Ajuga: Ajuga ophrydis Burch. ex Benth. indigenous
Ballota
Genus Ballota: Ballota africana (L.) Benth. indigenous
Basilicum
Genus Basilicum: Basilicum polystachyon (L.) Moench, indigenous
Becium
Genus Becium: Becium angustifolium (Benth.) N.E.Br. accepted as Ocimum angustifolium Benth. present Becium burchellianum (Benth.) N.E.Br. accepted as Ocimum burchellianum Benth. present Becium citriodorum S.D.Will. & K.Balkwill, accepted as Ocimum dolomiticola A.J.Paton, present Becium coddii S.D.Will. & K.Balkwill, accepted as Ocimum coddii (S.D.Will. & K.Balkwill) A.J.Paton, present Becium filamentosum (Forssk.) Chiov. accepted as Ocimum filamentosum Forssk. present Becium grandiflorum (Lam.) Pic.Serm. var. galpinii (Gurke) Sebald, accepted as Ocimum obovatum E.Mey. ex Benth. subsp. obovatum var. galpinii, present Becium grandiflorum (Lam.) Pic.Serm. var. obovatum (E.Mey. ex Benth.) Sebald, accepted as Ocimum obovatum E.Mey. ex Benth. subsp. obovatum var. obovatum, present Becium reclinatum S.D.Will. & K.Balkwill, accepted as Ocimum reclinatum (S.D.Will. & K.Balkwill) A.J.Paton, present Becium waterbergensis S.D.Will. & K.Balkwill, accepted as Ocimum waterbergense (S.D.Will. & K.Balkwill) A.J.Paton, present
Cantinoa
Genus Cantinoa: Cantinoa americana (Aubl.) Harley & J.F.B.Pastore, not indigenous, naturalised Cantinoa mutabilis (Rich.) Harley & J.F.B.Pastore, not indigenous, naturalised
Cedronella
Genus Cedronella: Cedronella canariensis (L.) Webb & Berthel. not indigenous, cultivated, naturalised, invasive