Prostanthera askania

Prostanthera askania, commonly known as tranquility mintbush,[2] is a shrub that is endemic to Australia. It has mostly pale mauve flowers, strongly scented leaves and branches, dull green, toothed egg-shaped leaves and a restricted distribution.

Tranquility mintbush
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Lamiales
Family: Lamiaceae
Genus: Prostanthera
Species:
P. askania
Binomial name
Prostanthera askania

Description

Prostanthera askania is a small, upright, spreading shrub to 1–2.5 m (3–8 ft) high and similar diameter. The strongly aromatic dull green leaves are egg-shaped, paler on the underside, covered with long spreading hairs 12–40 mm (0.47–1.57 in) long and 8–24 mm (0.31–0.94 in) wide and rounded at the apex. The edges have forward facing teeth 5–10 mm (0.20–0.39 in) long and leaves either squared at the base or gradually narrows to the 2–6 mm (0.079–0.236 in) long hairy petiole. The bracts are 2.5–3 mm (0.098–0.118 in) long and remain after flowering. The dull green bracts 5–6 mm (0.20–0.24 in) long, the tube 1.5–2.5 mm (0.059–0.098 in) long and the lobes 1.8–3.5 mm (0.071–0.138 in) long. The 4-10 light mauve or bluish flowers appear in leafy clusters at the end of branches, petals 12–14 mm (0.47–0.55 in) long. Flowering occurs from June to December.[2][3][4]

Taxonomy and naming

Prostanthera askania was first formally described in 1997 by B.J.Conn and the description was published in Telopea.[5][6]The specific epithet askania is named after Askania Park a private reserve west of Ourimbah, where it grows in sheltered gullies.[7]

Distribution and habitat

Tranquility mint bush has a restricted distribution near creeks that flow into Brisbane Water or Tuggerah Lake near Gosford in New South Wales. It grows as an understory shrub near rainforest on flats to reasonably steep slopes in sandstone and alluvial soils.[4][6]

Conservation status

Prostanthera askania is considered a "threatened species" under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.[4]

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References
  1. "Prostanthera askania". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 9 February 2020.
  2. "Prostanthera askania". PlantNET. Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney. Retrieved 9 February 2020.
  3. Fairley, Alan; Moore, Philip (2010). Native Plants of the Sydney Region. Jacana Books. ISBN 9781741755718.
  4. "Prostanthera askania" (PDF). Prostanthera askania recovery plan. Department of Environment and Conservation (NSW), Hurstville, NSW. Retrieved 13 February 2020.
  5. Conn, Barry J. "Prostanthera askania". Australian Plant Name Index. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
  6. Conn, Barry J. (1997). "Prostanthera askania" (PDF). Telopea. 7 (3): 231–234. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
  7. Fairley, Alan (2004). Seldom Seen-Rare Plants of Greater Sydney. Louise Egerton. p. 160. ISBN 1876334991.
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