| Spiny mintbush | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Prostanthera spinosa ANBG Canberra | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Lamiales |
| Family: | Lamiaceae |
| Genus: | Prostanthera |
| Species: | P. spinosa |
| Binomial name | |
| Prostanthera spinosa | |
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| Occurrence data from AVH | |
Prostanthera spinosa, commonly known as spiny mintbush, [2] is a shrub that is endemic to south-eastern Australia. It has mauve to white flowers, spiny stems and aromatic foliage.
Prostanthera spinosa is a small, rigid, upright shrub with a scrambling habit mostly semi-prostrate, usually 0.2–2 m (7.9 in – 6 ft 6.7 in) high. The aromatic branches may be sparsely or moderately densely hairy with either upward spreading, straight or curled hairs 0.2–1 mm (0.0079–0.0394 in) long, or smooth with a few hairs at the nodes and consistent decussate spines 6–16 mm (0.24–0.63 in) long. The small leaves are thickly hairy or with occasional hairs, mostly on the petiole. The leaf is narrowly egg-shaped to broadly elliptic or trullate 1.5–6 mm (0.059–0.236 in) long, 1–3 mm (0.039–0.118 in) wide and the petiole 0.4–1 mm (0.016–0.039 in) long. The leaves are darker on the upper surface, paler on the underside, smooth or with firm, spreading hairs below on the midrib and profusely covered with glands. The leaf margins entire or slightly rolled under, underside veins obscure, ending in a rounded apex on a petiole 0.4–1 mm (0.016–0.039 in) long. Its flowers occur singly in the leaf axils, they are pale mauve to lilac to white with orange-brown streaks or spots on the lower inside petal that is 2–3 mm (0.079–0.118 in) long. The bracteoles remain to flower maturity are 0.9–2 mm (0.035–0.079 in) long and 0.2–0.3 mm (0.0079–0.0118 in) wide. Flowering occurs from July to December. [3] [4] [5]
The species was formally described in 1855 by Victorian Government Botanist Ferdinand von Mueller, based on plant material collected from "rocky declivities in springs near the Grampians". The description was published in Hooker's Journal of Botany and Kew Garden Miscellany . [6] [7] The specific epithet (spinosa) is derived from the Latin spinosus meaning "thorny". [8]
Spiny mintbush occurs in the Grampians in rocky locations on shallow, sandy soils. In South Australia it is found growing near watercourses mostly in loamy-sand over limestone or sandstone. [3] [4]
Prostanthera rotundifolia, commonly known as round-leaved mintbush or round-leaf mint-bush is a species of flowering plant in the mint family Lamiaceae, and is endemic to south-eastern Australia. It is an erect shrub with aromatic branches covered with short hairs and glands, egg-shaped to more or less round leaves and purple to mauve or pinkish flowers on the ends of branchlets.
Prostanthera ovalifolia, commonly known as the oval-leaf mintbush or purple mintbush, is a species of flowering plant in the family Lamiaceae and is endemic to south-eastern continental Australia. It is an erect shrub with egg-shaped leaves and groups of mauve to deep blue-purple flowers arranged in groups at the ends of branchlets.
Prostanthera stenophylla is a species of flowering plant in the family Lamiaceae and is endemic to Wollemi National Park in New South Wales. It is an erect, slender, aromatic shrub with hairy, oblong leaves and small groups of pale bluish mauve to violet flowers.
Prostanthera arapilensis is a flowering plant in the family Lamiaceae and is endemic to a small area of Victoria, Australia. It is an erect shrub with hairy branches, broadly egg-shaped to more or less round leaves and pale mauve or white flowers with orange-brown spots or streaks inside the petal tube.
Prostanthera marifolia, commonly known as Seaforth mintbush, is a species of flowering plant that is endemic to a restricted area of New South Wales. It is a small, erect, openly branched shrub with egg-shaped to elliptic leaves, and purple to mauve flowers arranged in leaf axils.
Prostanthera decussata, commonly known as dense mintbush, species of flowering plant that is endemic south-eastern Australia. It is a dense, compact, strongly aromatic shrub with egg-shaped leaves and mauve to violet flowers with yellow streaks, arranged in leaf axils near the ends of branchlets.
Prostanthera hirtula, commonly known as hairy mintbush, is a species of flowering plant in the family Lamiaceae and is endemic to the south-eastern continental Australia. It is a strongly aromatic, densely hairy, spreading shrub with narrow egg-shaped leaves and dark mauve flowers, and that grows in exposed, rocky sites.
Prostanthera junonis, commonly known as Somersby mintbush, is a species of flowering plant in the family Lamiaceae and is endemic to the Central Coast of New South Wales. It is a low, straggling shrub with hairy, egg-shaped leaves and purple to mauve flowers.
Prostanthera askania, commonly known as tranquility mintbush, 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.
Prostanthera athertoniana is a species of flowering plant in the family Lamiaceae and is endemic to a restricted area of Queensland. It is a small, densely-foliaged shrub with strongly aromatic, elliptical, oblong or egg-shaped leaves and hairy, purplish-mauve flowers arranged singly in upper leaf axils.
Prostanthera canaliculata is a species of flowering plant in the family Lamiaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a small, erect shrub with hairy branchlets, narrow egg-shaped to narrow elliptical leaves and pale blue or pale violet to white flowers with no markings.
Prostanthera cineolifera, commonly known as the Singleton mint bush, is a species of flowering plant in the family Lamiaceae and is endemic to eastern New South Wales. It is an erect shrub with hairy branches, narrow egg-shaped leaves and clusters of pale mauve to dark purple-mauve flowers arranged on the ends of branchlets.
Prostanthera densa, commonly known as villous mint-bush, is a species of flowering plant in the family Lamiaceae and is endemic to near-coastal areas of New South Wales. It is an erect, often compact shrub with aromatic branches, egg-shaped leaves, and mauve flowers with orange markings inside.
Prostanthera discolor is a species of flowering plant in the family Lamiaceae and is endemic to a small area of New South Wales. It is an open, erect, strongly aromatic shrub with lance-shaped to oblong leaves, and deep mauve to purple flowers with darker spots inside.
Prostanthera grylloana is a species of flowering plant in the family Lamiaceae and is endemic to Western Australia. It is a small, erect shrub with densely hairy branchlets, small, spatula-shaped leaves and red to pink flowers.
Prostanthera lanceolata is a species of flowering plant in the family Lamiaceae and is endemic to near-coastal area of eastern Australia. It is an erect, aromatic shrub that has stems that are square in cross-section, glandular, egg-shaped leaves and mauve or deep bluish-purple flowers.
Prostanthera makinsonii is a species of flowering plant in the family Lamiaceae and is endemic to a restricted area of New South Wales. It is a spreading shrub with strongly aromatic, egg-shaped leaves and mostly glabrous purple flowers arranged in bunches of eight to twelve in upper leaf axils.
Prostanthera rugosa is a species of flowering plant in the family Lamiaceae and is endemic to a restricted area of New South Wales. It is an openly-branched shrub with egg-shaped or narrow egg-shaped, thick, fleshy leaves and mauve flowers with a white tinge arranged in leaf axils near the ends of branchlets.
Prostanthera sejuncta is a flowering plant in the family Lamiaceae and is endemic to a small area of New South Wales. It is a scrambling, more or less prostrate, aromatic shrub with spiny branches, narrow egg-shaped leaves and pale mauve, pale lilac or almost white flowers.
Prostanthera stricta, commonly known as Mount Vincent mint bush, is a species of flowering plant in the family Lamiaceae and is endemic to a small area of New South Wales. It is an bushy, erect, spreading shrub with egg-shaped leaves and mauve flowers with darker spots inside.