Beer and Citrus

As I was wandering around Nana's greenhouse yesterday, I came across a Proven Winners plant labelled 'Cerveza 'N Lime' Plectranthus hybrid. It looks identical to the plant I have been calling Cuban Oregano and which I have been growing for more than 30 years. In January I found a Latin name for it, Plectranthus Amboinicus. So we are on the right track. Since Nana's is selling these for $7 each, I have a fortune in my greenhouse. On the left is Proven Winner plant, on the right is mine. The color is due to different lighting conditions, just look at the shape of the leaves.

As I understand it, all the name 'Cerveza 'N Lime' does is establish a trademark. Mine does not smell at all like either beer or lime, and I realized later that I should have smelled the PW one. The Spanish word may be an homage to some of the inaccurate names by which this plant is called, including Cuban Oregano, Mexican Mint, and Spanish Thyme. It is related to mint, but its region of origin is East Africa and Southern Asia. Lime, perhaps because of its color. I could not sell the plants that I have been propagating for more than 30 years using PW's made-up name, but I could give my version a funky new name and claim it as an unregistered trademark. Registering the trademark with the Patent Office gives more protection, but it costs $350 and I doubt I will ever sell enough (if any) to justify that cost.

Here is a supersecret photo smuggled out of the greenhouse where the plants are being propagated. May I introduce Plectranthus Amboinicus 'Velveteen Hammer' ™, "Velveteen" beause of the fuzzy leaves and "Hammer" because...I don't know.

Try again. May I introduce Plectranthus Amboinicus 'Velveteen Aromatic' ™. Or better yet, Plectranthus Amboinicus variegata, 'Velveteen Aromatic (Variegated)' ™, although truth be told the yellow rims on the leaves are probably a nutrient deficiency and not variegation. I'll give them a feeding on Fertilizer Friday.