Special Features and Information
General
The Mint family (Lamiaceae) is a large family with approximately 7,000 species within about 236 genera with a cosmopolitan distribution. Many of the species, such as basil (Ocimum basilicum), lavender (Lavandula spp.), oregano (Origanum vulgare), rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus), and thyme (Thymus vulgaris), are well known because of their aromatic properties and culinary uses [WikipediA;Lamiaceae].
In addition to Coleus australis, other native Hawaiian members of Lamiaceae include: four extinct and one endangered species of Haplostachys; the indigenous pakala (Lepechinia hastata); over 30 endemic extinct and extant species of Phyllostegia; over 20 endemic extinct and extant species of Stenogyne; and the indigenous pōhinahina (Vitex rotundifolia) [Flora of the Hawaiian Islands]. Hawai‘i's native Lamiaceae are often referred to as "mintless mints" because they lack the typical minty smell or taste of Lamiaceae elsewhere. Still, there are a few native Hawaiian mints that have a sweet fragrance, just not the minty scent of their non-Hawaiian relatives.
Hawaiian Name
Etymology
[Wagner et al. 1990].
[Gledhill 2008]