Common name: Victorian Christmas Bush
Prostanthera subalpina B.J.Conn & K.M.Proft APNI* Description: Spreading shrub to 1.5–2 metres tall. Branchlets glabrous, moderately glandular.
Leaves glabrous, dark green above, paler below; petiole to 8.5–20 mm long; lamina narrowly ovate, 60–110 mm long, 12–24 mm wide, moderately glandular with sessile glands most distinctive on the abaxial surface, base cuneate, margin slightly recurved, toothed with c. 20–25 teeth per side, apex tapering, venation distinct, with midrib raised on abaxial surface; strongly aromatic when crushed.
Inflorescence compound, with 8–16 flowers; pherophylls not persistent and not seen. Pedicel 1.5–2.5 mm long. Prophylls persistent, slightly narrowly elliptic to linear, tapering from apex, 1.2–2.5 mm long, 0.1–0.3 mm wide, base tapering or not tapering. Calyx green, with mauve tinge, glabrous or with an occasional hair, moderately glandular, tube 1.4–2.5 mm long, abaxial lobe 2–2.6 mm long, adaxial lobe 2–2.6 mm long. Corolla 10–12 mm long, white to pale mauve, especially on adaxial lobes and apices of lateral and abaxial lobes. Stamens 5.1–7 mm long, connective appendage 1–1.3 mm long.
Fruiting calyx and mericarps not seen.
Flowering: December to January.
Distribution and occurrence: Frequent in protected gullies, near creeks and watercourses, and in more open sites along roadsides, growing in exposed granite-derived gravelly to moist loamy soils, associated with Eucalyptus stellulata, E. pauciflora and a shrubby understorey.
NSW subdivisions: ST
Text by T.C.Wilson
Taxon concept: Conn BJ, Henwood MJ, Proft KM, Scott JA, Wilson TC, Howes RS (2021) An integrative taxonomic approach resolves the Prostanthera lasianthos (Lamiaceae) species complex. Australian Systematic Botany 34(5) 438–476
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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