Mount Illbillee mintbush
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Lamiales
Family: Lamiaceae
Genus: Prostanthera
Species:
P. nudula
Binomial name
Prostanthera nudula
J.M.Black ex E.L.Robertson[1]
Occurrence data from AVH

Prostanthera nudula, commonly known as Mount Illbillee mintbush,[2] is a species of flowering plant in the family Lamiaceae and is endemic to South Australia. It is a shrub with branches that become spiny, narrow elliptic leaves and pale cream-coloured flowers with yellow dots inside.

Description

Prostanthera nudula is an erect to scrambling shrub that grows to a height of 0.5–2 mm (0.020–0.079 in) with branches that become rigid spines as they age. The leaves are narrow elliptic, 4–10.5 mm (0.16–0.41 in) long and 1.3–2.2 mm (0.051–0.087 in) wide on a petiole 0.3–0.8 mm (0.012–0.031 in) long. The flowers are arranged on pedicels 1.3–2.3 mm (0.051–0.091 in) long with bracteoles 1.5–2.4 mm (0.059–0.094 in) long near the base. The sepals are yellowish green, forming a tube 2.5–3.4 mm (0.098–0.134 in) long with two lobes, the lower lobe 3.3–4.7 mm (0.13–0.19 in) long and the upper lobe 5.2–8 mm (0.20–0.31 in) long. The petals are pale cream-coloured with yellow spots, 8–11 mm (0.31–0.43 in) long, the central lower lobe 3–3.5 mm (0.12–0.14 in) long and about 4 mm (0.16 in) wide. The lower lateral lobes are about 3 m (9.8 ft) long and 2 mm (0.079 in) wide and the upper lip is broadly egg-shaped, 4–4.5 mm (0.16–0.18 in) long and about 4.5 mm (0.18 in) wide. Flowering occurs from September to October.[3][4]

Taxonomy

Prostanthera nudula was first formally described in 1957 by Enid Lucy Robertson from an unpublished description by John McConnell Black. The description was published in the second edition of the Flora of South Australia from specimens collected by J.B. Cleland in the Everard Ranges in 1950.[5]

Distribution and habitat

Mount Illbillee mintbush grows amongst granite outcrops, usually near watercourse. It is relatively common in the Everard Ranges and is also found in the Musgrave Ranges.[3][6]

References

  1. ↑ "Prostanthera nudula". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 15 September 2020.
  2. ↑ "Prostanthera nudula (Labiatae) Mount Illbillee Mintbush". South Australian Seed Conservation Service. Retrieved 15 September 2020.
  3. 1 2 "Prostanthera nudula". State Herbarium of South Australia. Retrieved 15 September 2020.
  4. ↑ Conn, Barry J. (September 1988). "Prostantheras of South Australia" (PDF). Prostanthera and Westringia Study Group Newsletter. 14: 18–19. Retrieved 15 September 2020.
  5. ↑ "Prostanthera nudula". Australian Plant Name Index. Retrieved 15 September 2020.
  6. ↑ "Rare plants of the APY Lands Prostanthera nudula" (PDF). Government of South Australia. Retrieved 15 September 2020.
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