Prostanthera galbraithiae

Prostanthera galbraithiae, commonly known as Wellington mint-bush, is a flowering plant in the family Lamiaceae. It is endemic to Victoria in Australia.[2]

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

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. "Prostanthera galbraithiae". Australian Plant Name Index (APNI), IBIS database. Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government, Canberra. Retrieved 25 September 2009.
  2. Carter, Oberon; Neville Walsh. "National Recovery Plan for the Wellington Mint-bush Prostanthera galbraithiae". Department of Sustainability and Environment. Retrieved 7 January 2013.
  3. Conn, Barry J. (1998). "Contributions to the systematics of Prostanthera (Labiatae) in south-eastern Australia" (PDF). Telopea. 7 (4): 319–332. doi:10.7751/telopea19982003. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 October 2009. Retrieved 25 September 2009.


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