Prostanthera melissifolia, commonly known as balm mint bush,[2] is a species of flowering plant in the family Lamiaceae and is endemic to south-eastern Australia. It is an erect shrub with hairy branches, egg-shaped leaves with fine teeth on the edges and mauve to purple or pink flowers on the ends of branchlets.
| Balm mint bush | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Lamiales |
| Family: | Lamiaceae |
| Genus: | Prostanthera |
| Species: | P. melissifolia
|
| Binomial name | |
| Prostanthera melissifolia | |
| |
| Occurrence data from AVH | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
| |
Description
editProstanthera melissifolia is an erect shrub that typically grows to a height of 1–2 m (3 ft 3 in – 6 ft 7 in) and has hairy, glandular branches. The leaves are dark green above, paler below, egg-shaped, 15–30 mm (0.59–1.18 in) long and 10–15 mm (0.39–0.59 in) wide on a petiole 10–15 mm (0.39–0.59 in) long. There are fine teeth on the edges of the leaves and the midrid and veins are hairy. The flowers are arranged in bunches of ten to twenty on the ends of branchlets with bracteoles 1–2.2 mm (0.039–0.087 in) long at the base but that fall off as the flowers develop. The sepals are green, often with a maroon tinge, and form a tube 2 mm (0.079 in) long with two egg-shaped to oblong lobes 1.5–2.5 mm (0.059–0.098 in) long. The petals are mauve to purple or pink, 10–12 mm (0.39–0.47 in) long and form a bell-shaped tube 5–6 mm (0.20–0.24 in) long with two lips. The central lobe of the lower lip is 5.5–7 mm (0.22–0.28 in) long and 5–6 mm (0.20–0.24 in) wide and the side lobes are 4–6 mm (0.16–0.24 in) long and 5–6 mm (0.20–0.24 in) wide. The upper lip is 3–3.5 mm (0.12–0.14 in) long and 7–8 mm (0.28–0.31 in) wide with a central notch 3–3.5 mm (0.12–0.14 in) deep. Flowering occurs in spring.[2][3][4]
Taxonomy and naming
editProstanthera melissifolia was first formally described in 1858 by Ferdinand von Mueller in Fragmenta Phytographiae Australiae.[5][6] The specific epithet (melissifolia) is in reference to the foliage resembling Melissa, a genus of perennial herbs.[7][8]
Distribution and habitat
editBalm mint bush grows in tall montane forests between the Otway and Strzelecki Ranges in Victoria and on the far south coast of New South Wales.
References
edit- ^ a b "Prostanthera melissifolia". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
- ^ a b Conn, Barry J. "Prostanthera melissifolia". Royal Botanic Garden Sydney. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
- ^ Conn, Barry J. "Prostanthera melissifolia". Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
- ^ Conn, Barry J. (1998). "Contributions to the systematics of Prostanthera (Labiatae) in south-eastern Australia". Telopea. 7 (4): 324–330. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
- ^ "Prostanthera melissifolia". APNI. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
- ^ von Mueller, Ferdinand (1858). Fragmenta Phytographiae Australiae. Melbourne: Victorian Government Printer. p. 19. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
- ^ Althofer, George W. (1978). Cradle of Incense. Stanley Smith Memorial Publications Fund. p. 178. ISBN 0909830134.
- ^ Sheather, Warren; Sheather, Gloria. "Prostanthera melissifolia". Plant Profiles. Australian Plant Society-NSW. Retrieved 9 March 2021.