Prostanthera howelliae
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Lamiales
Family: Lamiaceae
Genus: Prostanthera
Species:
P. howelliae
Binomial name
Prostanthera howelliae
Occurrence data from AVH
Habit
Pink form

Prostanthera howelliae is a flowering plant in the mint family Lamiaceae and is endemic to New South Wales and Queensland. It is a small shrub with narrow stems, aromatic, hairy leaves and pink, purple or violet, tube-shaped flowers.

Description

Prostanthera howelliae is an erect or spreading, virgate shrub which grows to a height and spread of 0.3–1.5 m (1–5 ft) with its branches densely covered with short hairs. The leaves have a fragrant odour when crushed, and are narrow egg-shaped, 2.5–10 mm (0.1–0.4 in) long, 0.5–1.5 mm (0.02–0.06 in) wide with their edges turned under. The leaves have a very short stalk, sometimes a maroon tinge and are covered with short, cone-shaped hairs.[2][3]

The flowers are arranged singly in leaf axils with two bracteoles at their base, the bracteoles leaf-like, linear in shape, about 1.5 mm (0.06 in) long and remaining on the plant after flowering. The tube formed by the sepals is 4–5 mm (0.16–0.20 in) long, with the tubular part about 2 mm (0.08 in) long. The petal tube is 8–10 mm (0.3–0.4 in) long, pink to purple-mauve and spotted inside the tube. As with many other prostantheras, the petal tube has two "lips" with the upper one having two lobes and the lower one three lobes. Flowering occurs in spring.[2][3]

Taxonomy and naming

The species was first formally described in 1929 by William Blakely and the description was published in Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales.[4][3] The specific epithet (howelliae) honours "Mrs. T.J. Howell, who, for a number of years, has taken a keen interest in the native flora".[4][3]

Distribution and habitat

This prostanthera grows in woodland and shrubland, often in gravelly or sandy soil, in the eastern half of New South Wales and in Queensland.[2]

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Prostanthera howelliae.
  1. ↑ "Prostanthera howelliae". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
  2. 1 2 3 Conn, Barry J. "Prostenthera howelliae". Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney: plantnet. Retrieved 21 November 2016.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Blakely, William (1929). "Contribution to the flora of New South Wales". Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales. 54 (5): 684. Retrieved 21 November 2016.
  4. 1 2 "Prostanthera howelliae". APNI. Retrieved 21 November 2016.
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