Prostanthera centralis is a species of flowering plant in the family Lamiaceae and is endemic to an area near the border between the Northern Territory and Western Australia. It is an erect shrub with hairy branchlets, hairy egg-shaped to elliptical leaves and mauve to blue flowers.
| Prostanthera centralis | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Lamiales |
| Family: | Lamiaceae |
| Genus: | Prostanthera |
| Species: | P. centralis
|
| Binomial name | |
| Prostanthera centralis | |
| |
| Occurrence data from AVH | |
Description
editProstanthera centralis is an erect shrub that typically grows to a height of 0.3–1 m (1 ft 0 in – 3 ft 3 in) and has more or less cylindrical, densely hairy branchlets. The leaves are densely hairy, egg-shaped to elliptical, 9–20 mm (0.35–0.79 in) long, 4–9 mm (0.16–0.35 in) wide on a petiole 0.5–1.5 mm (0.020–0.059 in) long. The flowers are arranged singly in 16 to 46 leaf axils on the ends of branchlets, each flower on a densely hairy pedicel 1.5–3.5 mm (0.059–0.138 in) long. The sepals are green with a purplish tip and form a tube 2.5–5 mm (0.098–0.197 in) long with two lobes, the lower lobe 3–6 mm (0.12–0.24 in) long and 4–7 mm (0.16–0.28 in) wide, the upper lobe 3.5–5 mm (0.14–0.20 in) long and 6–8 mm (0.24–0.31 in) wide. The petals are purplish blue, or mauve to blue, 11–16 mm (0.43–0.63 in) long and form a tube 8–10.5 mm (0.31–0.41 in) long. The lower lip has three lobes, the centre lobe egg-shaped to almost round, 3–5 mm (0.12–0.20 in) long and 5–6 mm (0.20–0.24 in) wide and the side lobes about 4 mm (0.16 in) long and 3 mm (0.12 in) wide. The upper lip has two egg-shaped lobes 3.5–4 mm (0.14–0.16 in) long and 6–8 mm (0.24–0.31 in) wide. Flowering occurs from July to October.[2][3]
Taxonomy
editProstanthera centralis was first formally described in 1988 by Barry Conn in the journal Nuytsia from specimens collected in the Dean Range, near the Kaltukatjara settlement.[2][4]
Distribution and habitat
editThis mintbush grows on rocky scree slopes in the Central Ranges bioregion near the border between the Northern Territory and Western Australia.[2][3]
Conservation status
editProstanthera centralis is classified as "Priority Three" by the Government of Western Australia Department of Parks and Wildlife[3] meaning that it is poorly known and known from only a few locations but is not under imminent threat.[5]
References
edit- ^ "Prostanthera centralis". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 26 August 2020.
- ^ a b c Conn, Barry J. (1988). "A taxonomic revision of Prostanthera Labill. Section Prostanthera (Labiatae). 1. The species of the Northern Territory, South Australia and Western Australia". Nuytsia. 6 (3): 382–385. Retrieved 26 August 2020.
- ^ a b c "Prostanthera centralis". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
- ^ "Prostanthera centralis". APNI. Retrieved 26 August 2020.
- ^ "Conservation codes for Western Australian Flora and Fauna" (PDF). Government of Western Australia Department of Parks and Wildlife. Retrieved 26 August 2020.