Prostanthera incisa

Last updated

Cut-leaved mint-bush
Prostanthera incisa 2.jpg
Near Bega
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Lamiales
Family: Lamiaceae
Genus: Prostanthera
Species:
P. incisa
Binomial name
Prostanthera incisa
Prostanthera incisaDistA45.png
Occurrence data from AVH
Synonyms [1]
List
    • Prostanthera incisa Benth. nom. inval., pro syn.
    • Prostanthera incisaR.Br. var. incisa
    • Prostanthera incisa var. pubescens F.Muell. ex Benth.
    • Prostanthera incisa var. sieberi(Benth.) C.Moore & Betche
    • Prostanthera sieberiBenth.
    • Prostanthera sp. aff. melissifolia
    • Prostanthera violaceaauct. non R.Br.: Ewart, A.J. (1931)
    • Prostanthera violacea var. albifloraauct. non Benth.: Ewart, A.J. (1931)

Prostanthera incisa, commonly known as cut-leaf mint-bush [2] or native thyme, is a species of flowering plant in the family Lamiaceae and is endemic to south-eastern continental Australia. It is an erect, strongly aromatic, openly branched shrub with hairy, densely glandular branches, egg-shaped to oblong leaves, and pale mauve to mauve flowers.

Contents

Description

Prostanthera incisa is an erect, openly-branched, "strongly and rather unpleasantly" [3] aromatic shrub or has a "pleasing aroma emanating from the sensitive leaf glands" according to George Althofer. [4] The shrub has ridged, hairy, densely glandular branches. The leaves are hairy, densely glandular, egg-shaped to oblong, paler on the lower surface, 8–30 mm (0.31–1.18 in) long and 4–12 mm (0.16–0.47 in) wide on a petiole 1–10 mm (0.039–0.394 in) long. The edges of the leaves are coarsely toothed and the tip is rounded. The flowers are arranged in bunches near the end of the branches with bracteoles about 1 mm (0.039 in) long but that fall off as the flower develops. The sepals are 3–4.5 mm (0.12–0.18 in) long, forming a tube about 2 mm (0.079 in) long with two lobes, the upper lobe about 2 mm (0.079 in) long. The petals are pale mauve to mauve and 7–10 mm (0.28–0.39 in) long. [2] [3]

Taxonomy

Prostanthera incisa was first formally described in 1810 by Robert Brown in his book Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae et Insulae Van Diemen , and it still bears its original name. [5] [6]

Distribution and habitat

Cut-leaved mint-bush is found along the New South Wales coastline from Mount Warning near the Queensland border all the way to Victoria, as well as on the Central Tablelands of New South Wales. [2] It is found in sheltered sites in rainforest margins or sclerophyll forest under such trees as Sydney blue gum ( Eucalyptus saligna ), cabbage gum ( E. amplifolia ), Sydney peppermint ( E. piperita ), red bloodwood ( Corymbia gummifera ) or turpentine ( Syncarpia glomulifera ). It can also occur in scrub along watercourses in association with river she-oak ( Casuarina cunninghamiana ). [7]

Use in horticulture

First grown in England in 1824, [8] P. incisa var. incisa is cultivated on a small-scale commercial basis for essential oil production and for bushfood spice. P. incisa prefers sheltered sites in well-drained acidic soils, [8] and in poorly drained soils it can be susceptible to root-rot. It has reasonable frost tolerance down to −5 °. It is a fast-growing shrub, and consequently can be harvested within the first year. When pruned back to a height of 50 cm it reshoots readily.

Propagation is by seed or cutting material of firm young growth. [8]

Related Research Articles

<i>Prostanthera rotundifolia</i> Species of plant

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.

<i>Lobelia purpurascens</i> Species of flowering plant

Lobelia purpurascens, commonly known as white root or purplish pratia, is a flowering plant in the family Campanulaceae of eastern Australia. It is a small herbaceous, scrambling plant with white to pale pink flowers.

<i>Dampiera stricta</i> Species of flowering plant

Dampiera stricta commonly known as blue dampiera, is a flowering plant in the family Goodeniaceae. It is a small sub-shrub with variable leaves and mostly blue, mauve or purple flowers.

<i>Prostanthera ovalifolia</i> Species of flowering plant

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.

<i>Leucopogon juniperinus</i> Species of shrub

Leucopogon juniperinus, commonly known as prickly beard-heath, is a species of flowering plant in the heath family Ericaceae and is endemic to south-eastern continental Australia. It is an erect, densely-branched shrub with oblong to more or less egg-shaped leaves with the narrower end towards the base, and white, tube-shaped flowers arranged singly in upper leaf axils.

<i>Prostanthera linearis</i> Species of flowering plant

Prostanthera linearis, commonly known as narrow-leaved mint-bush is a species of flowering plant in the family Lamiaceae and is endemic to eastern Australia. It is an erect, faintly aromatic shrub with glabrous, narrow egg-shaped to linear leaves and white flowers that are often tinged with pinkish-mauve.

<i>Prostanthera marifolia</i> Species of flowering plant

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.

<i>Prostanthera rhombea</i> Species of flowering plant

Prostanthera rhombea, commonly known as sparkling mint-bush, is a plant in the family Lamiaceae and is endemic to disjunct areas of south-eastern Australia. It is an openly-branched shrub with strongly aromatic branches, circular to heart-shaped leaves and mauve or bluish flowers.

<i>Prostanthera denticulata</i> Species of flowering plant

Prostanthera denticulata, commonly known as rough mint-bush, is a species of flowering plant in the family Lamiaceae and is endemic to coastal New South Wales. It is a straggling to almost prostrate, aromatic shrub with narrow egg-shaped leaves and purple to mauve flowers arranged in leaf axils or on the ends of branchlets.

<i>Prostanthera saxicola</i> Species of flowering plant

Prostanthera saxicola is a species of flowering plant in the family Lamiaceae and is endemic to eastern Australia. It is a shrub with linear to elliptic leaves and white to mauve flowers arranged in leaf axils.

<i>Leucopogon pendulus</i> Species of plant

Leucopogon pendulus is a species of flowering plant in the heath family Ericaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is an erect, straggling shrub with oblong leaves and white, tube-shaped flowers that are bearded inside.

<i>Prostanthera caerulea</i> Species of flowering plant

Prostanthera caerulea, commonly known as lilac mint bush, is a species of flowering plant that is endemic to eastern Australia. It is an erect shrub with narrow egg-shaped leaves that have toothed edges, and white to bluish mauve flowers arranged on the ends of branchlets.

<i>Prostanthera prunelloides</i> Species of flowering plant

Prostanthera prunelloides is a species of flowering plant in the family Lamiaceae and is endemic to eastern New South Wales. It is a shrub with four-ridged branches, egg-shaped to round leaves and white or pale mauve flowers.

<i>Prostanthera scutellarioides</i> Species of plant

Prostanthera scutellarioides is a species of flowering plant that is endemic to New South Wales. It is an erect, or low-lying, faintly aromatic shrub with linear leaves and pale to deep mauve flowers arranged in leaf axils.

<i>Prostanthera violacea</i> Species of flowering plant

Prostanthera violacea, commonly known as violet mint-bush, is a species of flowering plant in the family Lamiaceae and is endemic to south-eastern New South Wales. It is a slender, strongly aromatic shrub with densely hairy branches, more or less round leaves with the edges rolled under and mauve to bluish flowers often with white tips.

<i>Teucrium argutum</i> Species of flowering plant

Teucrium argutum, commonly known as native germander, is a species of flowering plant in the family Lamiaceae, and is endemic to eastern Australia. It is a perennial herb often suckering, with hairy, broadly egg-shaped leaves with toothed or wavy edges, and pink-purple flowers.

<i>Leucopogon muticus</i> Species of plant

Leucopogon muticus, commonly knwon as blunt beard-heath, is a species of flowering plant in the heath family Ericaceae and is endemic to eastern Australia. It is an erect, straggling shrub with egg-shaped leaves with the narrower end towards the base, and small numbers of white, tube-shaped flowers that are densely bearded inside.

<i>Westringia angustifolia</i> Species of flowering plant

Westringia angustifolia, commonly known as scabrous westringia, is a flowering plant in the family Lamiaceae and is endemic to Tasmania. It is a small, upright shrub with mauve or white flowers.

<i>Pimelea argentea</i> Species of shrub

Pimelea argentea, commonly known as silvery leaved pimelea, is a species of flowering plant in the family Thymelaeaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is an erect shrub with densely hairy young stems and leaves, the leaves linear to elliptic, and heads of white to yellow or greenish flowers, the male and female flowers on separate plants.

Pimelea cinerea is a species of flowering plant in the family Thymelaeaceae and is endemic to Tasmania. It is a slender shrub with more or less elliptic leaves, and heads of white flowers surrounded by leaves.

References

  1. 1 2 "Prostanthera incisa". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 3 September 2020.
  2. 1 2 3 Conn, Barry J. "Prostanthera incisa". Royal Botanic Garden Sydney.
  3. 1 2 Conn, Barry J. "Prostanthera incisa". Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria. Retrieved 3 September 2020.
  4. ↑ Althofer, George (1978). Cradle of Incense. The Society for Growing Australian Plants. p. 71. ISBN   0909830134.
  5. ↑ "Prostanthera incisa". Australian Plant Name Index. Retrieved 3 September 2020.
  6. ↑ Brown, Robert (1810). Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae et Insulae Van Dieman. London: typis R. Taylor et socii,1810. p. 509. Retrieved 3 September 2020.
  7. ↑ Benson, Doug; McDougall, Lyn (1997). "Ecology of Sydney Plant Species, Part 5 - Dicotyledon families Flacourtiaceae to Myrsinaceae". Cunninghamia. 5 (2): 426. Retrieved 3 September 2020.
  8. 1 2 3 Elliot, Rodger W.; Jones, David L.; Blake, Trevor (1997). Encyclopaedia of Australian Plants Suitable for Cultivation: Volume 7 – N-Po. Port Melbourne: Lothian Press. p. 26; 221. ISBN   0-85091-634-8.
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