Prostanthera granitica
Prostanthera granitica, commonly known as the granite mintbush,[2] is a species of flowering plant in the family Lamiaceae and is endemic to eastern Australia. It is a spreading shrub with egg-shaped leaves with the edges rolled under, and purple to violet flowers.
Granite mintbush | |
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Near the Sandstone Caves in the Pilliga forest | |
Scientific classification ![]() | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Asterids |
Order: | Lamiales |
Family: | Lamiaceae |
Genus: | Prostanthera |
Species: | P. granitica |
Binomial name | |
Prostanthera granitica | |
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Occurrence data from AVH |
Description
Prostanthera granitica is a spreading shrub that typically grows to 0.6–1 m (2 ft 0 in – 3 ft 3 in) high and 2 m (6 ft 7 in) wide and has densely hairy branches. The leaves are light green, hairy, egg-shaped with the edges rolled under, 6–15 mm (0.24–0.59 in) long and 2–5 mm (0.079–0.197 in) wide and sessile or on a petiole up to 1 mm (0.039 in) long. The flowers are arranged singly in upper leaf axils with bracteoles about 2 mm (0.079 in) long at the base. The sepals are 5 mm (0.20 in) long and form a tube 3 mm (0.12 in) wide with two lobes, the upper lobe 2 mm (0.079 in) long. The petals are purple to mid-violet, occasionally white, 8–10 mm (0.31–0.39 in) long. Flowering occurs from August to December.[2]
Taxonomy
Prostanthera granitica was first formally described in 1905 by Joseph Maiden and Ernst Betche in the Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales.[3][4]
Distribution and habitat
Granite mint bush grows in heath and forest in rocky places, mainly on the tablelands, slopes and plains of New South Wales.[2][5]
References
- "Prostanthera granitica". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
- Conn, Barry J. "Prostanthera granitica". Royal Botanic Garden Sydney. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
- "Prostanthera granitica". Australian Plant Name Index. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
- Maiden, Joseph; Betche, Ernst (1905). "Notes from the Botanic Gardens, Sydney No. 11". Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales. 30 (3): 369–370. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
- Sheather, Warren; Sheather, Gloria. "Prostanthera granitica". Australian Plants Society, N.S.W. Retrieved 1 September 2020.