View Single Post
  #6   Report Post  
Old 26-02-2003, 02:46 PM
Beverly Erlebacher
 
Posts: n/a
Default "**** Off" plant", Coleus canina ?

In article ,
Cereoid+10+ wrote:
I did a search on "Coleus canina" and not only is the name consistently
misspelled but most of the information given is false and fantasy. The plant
is a well documented widespread weedy species not a hybrid created in
Germany.


Sounds like this year's version of of Citrosa, the Mosquito Repeller
Plant. This robust and attractive scented geranium received a lot of
hype some years ago as just the thing to keep mosquitos away from your
patio, complete with hype and fantasy about being genetically
engineered in Europe to fight malaria in the tropics. As far as i can
tell, it's yet another complex hybrid, perhaps mostly 'rose' and
'lemon' by the plant habit, leaf shape and scent, and about as
effective as any other citrus scented plant at repelling mosquitos,
i.e. marginal to nil even if you rub the juice on your skin.