Prostanthera galbraithiae
| Prostanthera galbraithiae | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Asterids |
| Order: | Lamiales |
| Family: | Lamiaceae |
| Genus: | Prostanthera |
| Species: | P. galbraithiae |
| Binomial name | |
| Prostanthera galbraithiae B.J.Conn.[1] | |
Prostanthera galbraithiae, commonly known as Wellington mint-bush, is a flowering plant in the family Lamiaceae. It is endemic to Victoria in Australia.[2]
Description
The species is a subshrub or shrub to between 0.1 and 2 metres high.[3] It has aromatic, sessile leaves which are usually strongly revolute and 8–15 mm long and 2–3 mm wide.[3] The flowers are deep-mauve to purple with maroon spots in the centre and appear in September and October in the species native range.[2][3]
Taxonomy
The species was first formally described by botanist Barry J. Conn in 1998 in Telopea.[1] The species epithet is named for Jean Galbraith, a member of the Latrobe Valley Field Naturalists, who co-discovered the species and advocated for its protection.[3]
Distribution and habitat
The species occurs on sandy soils over clay on the Gippsland plains in Holey Plains State Park.[3] It is associated with Eucalyptus obliqua woodland with a heathy understorey including species such as Acacia oxycedrus, Epacris impressa, Lepidosperma concavum, Leptospermum myrsinoides and Platylobium obtusangulum.[3] It can become locally common after fire.[3] However, a population at Dutson Downs appears to have become extinct due to overly-frequent fires.[2]
References
- 1 2 "Prostanthera galbraithiae". Australian Plant Name Index (APNI), IBIS database. Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government, Canberra. Retrieved 2009-09-25.
- 1 2 3 Carter, Oberon; Neville Walsh. "National Recovery Plan for the Wellington Mint-bush Prostanthera galbraithiae". Department of Sustainability and Environment. Retrieved 7 January 2013.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Conn, Barry J. (1998). "Contributions to the systematics of Prostanthera (Labiatae) in south-eastern Australia" (PDF). Telopea. 7 (4): 319–332.