Prostanthera nanophylla is a species of flowering plant in the family Lamiaceae and is endemic to Western Australia. It is a small shrub with hairy branches, egg-shaped to elliptic or narrow oblong leaves and mauve or blue to white flowers with dull brown, maroon or purple spots.
| Prostanthera nanophylla | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Lamiales |
| Family: | Lamiaceae |
| Genus: | Prostanthera |
| Species: | P. nanophylla
|
| Binomial name | |
| Prostanthera nanophylla | |
| |
| Occurrence data from AVH | |
Description
editProstanthera nanophylla is a shrub that typically grows to a height of 0.1–1 m (3.9 in – 3 ft 3.4 in) and has hairy, glandular branches. The leaves are usually clustered towards the ends of the shorter branchlets and are egg-shaped to elliptic or narrow oblong, 1.5–4.5 mm (0.059–0.177 in) long, about 1–1.5 mm (0.039–0.059 in) wide and sessile. The flowers are arranged in groups of six to ten near the ends of branchlets, each flower on a hairy pedicel 1.5 mm (0.059 in) long. The sepals are green to maroon, and form a tube 1.5–2.5 mm (0.059–0.098 in) long with two lobes, the lower lobe 3–4 mm (0.12–0.16 in) long and the upper lobe 3–5 mm (0.12–0.20 in) long. The petals are mauve or blue to white with dull brown, maroon or purple spots, 8–14 mm (0.31–0.55 in) long and form a tube 7.5–10 mm (0.30–0.39 in) long. The lower lip of the petal tube has three lobes, the centre lobe egg-shaped, 6–7 mm (0.24–0.28 in) long and the side lobes 2.5–4.5 mm (0.098–0.177 in) long. The upper lip is about 3 mm (0.12 in) long and 6–8 mm (0.24–0.31 in) wide with a central notch up to 2 mm (0.079 in) deep. Flowering occurs from August to November.[2][3]
Taxonomy
editProstanthera nanophylla was first formally described in 1988 by Barry Conn in the journal Nuytsia from specimens collected in 1975 near Koorda by Joseph Zvonko Weber (1930-1996).[2][4][5]
Distribution and habitat
editThis mintbush grows in rocky places and on sandplains and has been collected in the Avon Wheatbelt, Coolgardie and Mallee biogeographic regions.[2][3]
Conservation status
editProstanthera nanophylla 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.[6]
References
edit- ^ "Prostanthera nanophylla". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 10 September 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): 394–397. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
- ^ a b c "Prostanthera nanophylla". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
- ^ "Prostanthera nanophylla". APNI. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
- ^ "Weber, Joseph Zvonko (Joe) (1930–1996)". Council of Heads of Australasian Herbaria Australian National Herbarium. Retrieved 17 January 2020.
- ^ "Conservation codes for Western Australian Flora and Fauna" (PDF). Government of Western Australia Department of Parks and Wildlife. Retrieved 10 September 2020.