Prostanthera megacalyx is a species of flowering plant in the family Lamiaceae and is endemic to Queensland. It is a small shrub with pale green leaves and mauve flowers.
| Prostanthera megacalyx | |
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Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Lamiales |
| Family: | Lamiaceae |
| Genus: | Prostanthera |
| Species: | P. megacalyx
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| Binomial name | |
| Prostanthera megacalyx | |
Description
editProstanthera megacalyx is a small, stiff, rounded shrub up to 1 m (3 ft 3 in) high with wavy, light green, ovate to nearly disc-shaped leaves. The branchlets and new growth covered with short, pale, stiff glandular hairs. The leaves densely dotted with glands, leathery, almost irregularly disc-shaped, 3–6 mm (0.12–0.24 in) long, 2–4 mm (0.079–0.157 in) wide and tapering to a 1–2 mm (0.039–0.079 in) long petiole. The large mauve to lavender coloured flowers have a prominent calyx and borne singly in upper leaf axils on a pedicel about 1 mm (0.039 in) long. The calyx dotted with small glands at irregular intervals. The corolla violet to purple with soft, short somewhat scattered hairs, floral tube about 1 cm (0.39 in) long with short, purple streaks inside, upper petal broadly egg-shaped, 1.5 cm (0.59 in) long, 1 cm (0.39 in) wide, lower petal about half the size. The upper petal has two short lobes, lower lip deeply lobed and middle lobe rounded, 5 mm (0.20 in) long and 3 mm (0.12 in) wide.[2][3]
Taxonomy and naming
editProstanthera megacalyx was first formally described in 1926 by Cyril Tenison White and William Douglas Francis and the description was published in Proceedings of the Royal Society of Queensland.[3][4] The specific epithet (megacalyx) means "large calyx".[5]
Distribution and habitat
editThis prostanthera grows in barren, dry, rocky sites at Grey Range, Ambethala Range, Eulo and Yowah in Queensland.[2]
References
edit- ^ "Prostanthera megacalyx". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 16 March 2021.
- ^ a b Althofer, George W. (1978). Cradle of Incense. Stanley Smith Memorial Publication Fund. p. 178. ISBN 0909830134.
- ^ a b White, Cyril; Francis, William (1926). "Prostanthera megacalyx". Proceedings of the Royal Society of Queensland. 37: 163. Retrieved 20 March 2021.
- ^ "Prostanthera megacalyx". Australian Plant Name Index. Retrieved 20 March 2021.
- ^ Sharr, Francis Aubi; George, Alex (2019). Western Australian Plant Names and Their Meanings (3rd ed.). Kardinya, WA: Four Gables Press. p. 163. ISBN 9780958034180.