Prostanthera crocodyloides T.C.Wilson APNI* Description: Open, scandent to semi-erect, woody shrub to c. 1 m tall. Branchlets yellowish green, densely covered with short antrorse, geniculate, scabrous hairs (to 0.5 mm long), multicellular sessile glands absent to occasional, at least sparsely covered by sessile glands.
Leaves narrow ovate to ovate, 7–24 mm long, 1–5 mm wide; adaxial surface mid-green, secondary veins indistinct, with stiff tooth-like trichomes to 0.3 mm long and hair-like trichomes along margin to 0.15 mm long; abaxial surface with midvein prominent, covered with antrorse to spreading hairs to 0.4 mm long, at least sparsely covered by multicellular sessile glands, base shortly attenuate to truncate, margin undulate to entire and recurved, apex acute or obtuse; plant parts when crushed, with a scent of pine and lemon.
Flowers appearing axillary in racemose inflorescences; Pedicel 1–2.1 mm long. Prophylls persistent until fruiting, linear to strongly narrow ovate, 0.35–1.7 mm long, 0.1–0.3 mm wide. Calyx tube 1.4–1.9 mm long, abaxial lobe 2.7–3.4 mm long, adaxial lobe 0.7–1.6 mm long. Corolla 8.5–15 mm long, mauve without markings. Stamens with filament mauve and anthers dark purple, connective appendage 0.1–0.5 mm long.
Fruiting calyx larger than flowering calyx (accrescent), with tube 1–1.2 mm long; abaxial lobe 2.7–3.4 mm long; adaxial lobe 0.7–1.3 mm long. Mericarps 1.3–1.9 mm long and to c. 1 mm wide, surface wrinkled, light brown to beige.
Flowering: October to December.
Distribution and occurrence: Central Tablelands and the South West Slopes of New South Wales. Outcrops, steep to gentle slopes, and pavements in heathy shrubland to open woodland.
NSW subdivisions: CT, CWS, CT
Text by Trevor C Wilson (February 2025)
Taxon concept: Wilson TC, Carmen P & Hook C (2019) Recircumscription of Prostanthera denticulata R.Br. (Lamiaceae, Westringieae) and the new species P. crocodyloides T.C.Wilson TELOPEA 22:75–87.
APNI* Provides a link to the Australian Plant Name Index (hosted by the Australian National Botanic Gardens) for comprehensive bibliographic data
***The AVH map option provides a detailed interactive Australia wide distribution map drawn from collections held by all major Australian herbaria participating in the Australian Virtual Herbarium project.
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