Prostanthera carrickiana

Prostanthera carrickiana is an erect shrub that typically grows to a height of 0.5–1 m (1 ft 8 in – 3 ft 3 in) and has cylindrical, densely hairy branchlets. The leaves are elliptical, glabrous, 13–14 mm (0.51–0.55 in) long, 5.5–8 mm (0.22–0.31 in) wide on a petiole 0.7–1 mm (0.028–0.039 in) long. The flowers are arranged singly in two to six leaf axils near the ends of branchlets, each flower on a pedicel 2.5–2.8 mm (0.098–0.110 in) long. The sepals are green, 6.5–7.5 mm (0.26–0.30 in) long and form a tube 4.5–6 mm (0.18–0.24 in) long with two lobes about 2 mm (0.079 in) long and 3.5–4 mm (0.14–0.16 in) wide. The petals are pinkish-red, 23–26 mm (0.91–1.02 in) long and form a tube 13–15 mm (0.51–0.59 in) long. The lower lip has three lobes, the centre lobe broadly egg-shaped and concave, 2.5–3.5 mm (0.098–0.138 in) long and 3.5–4 mm (0.14–0.16 in) wide and the side lobes 1.5–2 mm (0.059–0.079 in) long and 2.5–4 mm (0.098–0.157 in) wide. The upper lip has two egg-shaped lobes 6–6.5 mm (0.24–0.26 in) long and 8–10 mm (0.31–0.39 in) wide. Flowering occurs from April to May.[3][2]

Prostanthera carrickiana was first formally described in 1987 by Barry Conn in the journal Muelleria from specimens collected in the Clyde Hill Nature Reserve. The specific epithet honours the botanist John Carrick.[3][4]

Carrick's mintbush grows in mallee with a low shrubby understorey but is only known from the Clyde Hill Nature Reserve in the Mallee biogeographic region.[3][2]

Prostanthera carrickiana is classified as "Priority Four" by the Government of Western Australia Department of Parks and Wildlife,[2] meaning that is rare or near threatened.[5]