Prostanthera cineolifera

Prostanthera cineolifera, commonly known as the Singleton mint bush,[2] is a species of flowering plant in the family Lamiaceae and is endemic to eastern New South Wales. It is an erect shrub with hairy branches, narrow egg-shaped leaves and clusters of pale mauve to dark purple-mauve flowers arranged on the ends of branchlets.

Singleton mint bush
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Lamiales
Family: Lamiaceae
Genus: Prostanthera
Species:
P. cineolifera
Binomial name
Prostanthera cineolifera
Occurrence data from AVH

Description

Prostanthera cineolifera is an erect, strongly aromatic shrub that typically grows to a height of 1–4 m (3 ft 3 in – 13 ft 1 in) with hairy, glandular stems. The leaves are narrow egg-shaped, light green, 12–50 mm (0.47–1.97 in) long and 4–12 mm (0.16–0.47 in) wide on a petiole 2–7 mm (0.079–0.276 in) long. The flowers are arranged in clusters at the ends of the branchlets with bracteoles 1–2 mm (0.039–0.079 in) long that fall off as the flowers develop. The sepals are 3–4 mm (0.12–0.16 in) long and form a tube 2–2.5 mm (0.079–0.098 in) long with two lobes, the upper lobe 1–2 mm (0.039–0.079 in) long. The petals are pale mauve to dark purple-mauve, 8–12 mm (0.31–0.47 in) long, and fused to form a tube that is darker on the inside. Flowering occurs from September to October.[2][3]

Taxonomy

Prostanthera cineolifera was first formally described in 1912 by Richard Thomas Baker and Henry George Smith in Journal and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New South Wales.[4][5]

Distribution and habitat

Singleton mint bush has been observed in scattered localities in New South Wales including at Apsley Falls near Walcha, and at scattered places in the Hunter Valley. It grows in forest and woodland on exposed ridges.[3][6]

Conservation status

This mintbush is classified as "vulnerable" under the Australian Government Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act and the New South Wales Government Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016. The main threats to the species include inappropriate fire regimes and its apparently small population size.[2][6]

References
  1. "Prostanthera cineolifera". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 27 August 2020.
  2. "Singleton mint bush - profile". New South Wales Government Office of Environment and Heritage. Retrieved 27 August 2020.
  3. Conn, Barry J. "Prostanthera cineolifera". Royal Botanic Garden Sydney. Retrieved 27 August 2020.
  4. "Prostanthera cineolifera". APNI. Retrieved 27 August 2020.
  5. Thomas, Richard Thomas; Smith, Henry George (1912). "On a new species of Prostanthera and its essential oils". Journal and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New South Wales. 46 (1): 103–110. Retrieved 27 August 2020.
  6. "Approved Conservation Advice for Prostanthera cineolifera" (PDF). Australian Government Department of the Environment. Retrieved 27 August 2020.
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