Some species are shrubs, trees (such asteak), or, rarely, vines. Many members of the family are widely cultivated, not only for their aromatic qualities, but also their ease of cultivation, since they are readily propagated by stem cuttings.[4] Besides those grown for their edible leaves, some are grown for decorative foliage. Others are grown for seed, such asSalvia hispanica (chia), or for their edible tubers, such asPlectranthus edulis,P. esculentus,P. rotundifolius, andStachys affinis (Chinese artichoke). Many are also grown ornamentally, notablycoleus,Plectranthus, and manySalvia species and hybrids.
The family has acosmopolitan distribution.[5] The enlarged Lamiaceae contain about 236genera[6] and have been stated to contain 6,900[5] to 7,200[6]species, but the World Checklist lists 7,534.[7] The largest genera areSalvia (900),Scutellaria (360),Stachys (300),Plectranthus (300),Hyptis (280),Teucrium (250),Vitex (250),Thymus (220), andNepeta (200).[6]Clerodendrum was once a genus of over 400 species,[6] but by 2010, it had been narrowed to about 150.[8]
The family has traditionally been considered closely related to theVerbenaceae;[6] in the 1990s,phylogenetic studies suggested that many generaclassified in the Verbenaceae should be classified in the Lamiaceae[9][10] or to other families in theorderLamiales.[1]
The alternative family name Labiatae refers to the flowers typically having petals fused into an upper lip and a lower lip (labia in Latin). Although this is still considered an acceptable alternative name, most botanists now use the name Lamiaceae in referring to this family. The flowers are bilaterally symmetrical with five united petals and five unitedsepals. They are usuallybisexual and verticillastrate (a flower cluster that looks like a whorl of flowers, but actually consists of two crowded clusters). The leaves emerge oppositely, each pair at right angles to the previous one (decussate) or whorled. The stems are frequently square in cross section,[11] but this trait is not found in all members of the family, and is sometimes found in other plant families.
The last revision of the entire family was published in 2004.[6] It described and providedkeys to 236 genera. These are marked with an asterisk (*) in the list below. A few genera have been established or resurrected since 2004. These are marked with a plus sign (+). Other genera have been synonymised. These are marked with a minus sign (-). The remaining genera in the list are mostly of historical interest only and are from a source that includes such genera without explanation.[12] Few of these are recognized in modern treatments of the family.
Thecircumscription of several genera has changed since 2004.Tsoongia,Paravitex, andViticipremna have been sunk intosynonymy withVitex.[15]Huxleya has been sunk intoVolkameria.[8]Kalaharia,Volkameria,Ovieda, andTetraclea have beensegregated from a formerlypolyphyleticClerodendrum.[8]Rydingia has been separated fromLeucas.[16] The remainingLeucas isparaphyletic over four other genera.[17]
^Retief E (July 2008)."Lamiaceae".PlantZAfrica. Retrieved15 October 2025.
^abHeywood VH, Brummitt RK, Seberg O, et al. (2007).Flowering Plant Families of the World. Ontario, Canada: Firefly Books.ISBN978-1-55407-206-4.
^abcdefghHarley RM, Atkins A, Budantsev AL, et al. 2004. "Labiatae" pages 167-275. In: Klaus Kubitzki (editor) and Joachim W. Kadereit (volume editor).The Families and Genera of Vascular Plants volume VII. Springer-Verlag: Berlin; Heidelberg, Germany.ISBN978-3-540-40593-1
^abcdYuan YW, Mabberley DJ, Steane DA, et al. (2010). "Further disintegration and redefinition ofClerodendrum (Lamiaceae): Implications for the understanding of the evolution of an intriguing breeding strategy".Taxon.59 (1):125–133.Bibcode:2010Taxon..59..125Y.doi:10.1002/tax.591013.
^Cantino, P.D., Harley, R.M. & Wagstaff, S.J. 1992. Genera of Labiatae: status and classification. Pp. 511-522. In: Raymond M. Harley and Tom Reynolds (editors).Advances in Labiate Science. Richmond, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
^Parnell, J. and Curtis, T. 2012.Webb's An Irish Flora. Cork University PressISBN978-185918-4783
^"List of genera in Lamiaceae". In: "Lamiaceae". In: "List of families". In: "Families and genera in GRIN. (seeExternal links below)
^List of Genera in Lamiaceae. At: Vascular Plant Families and Genera. At: World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. At: Electronic Plant Information Center. At: Website ofRoyal Botanic Gardens, Kew. (seeExternal Links below).
^Zhong JS, Li J, Li L, et al. (2010). "Phylogeny ofIsodon (Schrad. ex Benth.) Spach (Lamiaceae) and Related Genera Inferred from Nuclear Ribosomal ITS, trnL-trnF Region, and rps16 Intron Sequences and Morphology".Systematic Botany.35 (1):207–219.Bibcode:2010SysBo..35..207Z.doi:10.1600/036364410790862614.S2CID54808462.
