Spiked mint-bush
In Deua National Park
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Lamiales
Family: Lamiaceae
Genus: Prostanthera
Species:
P. phylicifolia
Binomial name
Prostanthera phylicifolia
Occurrence data from AVH

Prostanthera phylicifolia, commonly known as spiked mint-bush,[2] is a species of plant in the family Lamiaceae. It is an erect shrub with four-ridged branches, narrow egg-shaped to oval leaves and white or pale lilac-coloured flowers with purple and yellow spots.

Description

Prostanthera phylicifolia is an erect, compact to spreading shrub that typically grows to a height of 0.5–2 m (1 ft 8 in – 6 ft 7 in) and has four-ridged, slightly aromatic branches. The leaves are narrow egg-shaped to oval, 5–15 mm (0.20–0.59 in) long and 1.5–4 mm (0.059–0.157 in) wide on a petiole up to 1 mm (0.039 in) long. The flowers are arranged near the ends of the branchlets with bracteoles 2.5 mm (0.098 in) long at the base. The sepals are 4–5 mm (0.16–0.20 in) long forming a tube 2–3 mm (0.079–0.118 in) long with two lobes, the upper lobe 2–4 mm (0.079–0.157 in) long. The petals are 12–15 mm (0.47–0.59 in) long and white to pale lilac with purple spots inside the tube and yellow spots on the lower lobe.[2][3]

Taxonomy

Prostanthera phylicifolia was first formally described by Victorian Government botanist Ferdinand von Mueller in 1858 in his book Fragmenta Phytographiae Australiae from material collected from "Mt McFarlane" (now Macfarlane’s Lookout) near Omeo in northern Victoria and the “Maneroo” (present-day Monaro) region of New South Wales.[4][5][6]

George Bentham's 1870 revision of the genus Prostanthera broadened the species' circumscription, by citing specimens from the New England region of New South Wales and the Glass House Mountains, Queensland, in addition to the Victorian type locality.[7] Bentham’s broad circumscription subsequently caused taxonomic confusion, and populations from northern New South Wales and southern Queensland were variously identified as either P. phylicifolia or P. scutellarioides, despite considerable morphological differences between them. Molecular phylogenetic studies later confirmed Bentham's circumscription as erroneous, demonstrating that P. phylicifolia is restricted to localities cited in the original description, while populations from northern New South Wales and Queensland are more closely allied to P. scutellarioides.[6] The species was lectotypified in 2023 to restrict application of the name P. phylicifolia to populations in southern New South Wales and Victoria, as described in Mueller's original description. [8]

Evolutionary relationships

Molecular studies have demonstrated that P. phylicifolia is closely related to Prostanthera gilesii and Prostanthera volucris,[6][8] the latter not a species accepted by the Australian Plant Census[9] or by Plants of the World Online[10] as of September 2023.

Distribution and habitat

This species occurs on hillsides and granite outcrops in heath and woodland in south-eastern New South Wales, the Australian Capital Territory and north-eastern Victoria.[2]

Use in horticulture

Prostanthera 'Poorinda Snow Queen' and 'Poorinda Ballerina', hybrid crosses of P. lasianthos and P. phylicifolia, are cultivated.[11][12]

References

  1. ↑ "Prostanthera phylicifolia". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
  2. 1 2 3 Conn, Barry J. "Prostanthera phylicifolia". Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
  3. ↑ "Prostanthera phylicifolia". PlantNET - New South Wales Flora Online. Royal Botanic Gardens & Domain Trust, Sydney Australia. Retrieved 2009-12-08.
  4. ↑ "Prostanthera phylicifolia". APNI. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
  5. ↑ von Mueller, Ferdinand (1858). Fragmenta phytographiae Australiae. Vol. 1. Melbourne: Victorian Government Printer. p. 19. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
  6. 1 2 3 O'Donnell, Ryan P.; Wilson, Tevor C.; Andrew, Rose L.; Telford, Ian R.H.; Taseski, Guy M.; Zimmer, Heidi; Bruhl, Jeremy J. (26 November 2021). "Molecular phylogenetic analysis of the Prostanthera phylicifolia (Lamiaceae) assemblage resolves relationships of the 'Critically Endangered' P. gilesii and other putative new species". Telopea. 24: 359–376. doi:10.7751/telopea15561. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
  7. ↑ Bentham, George (1870). Flora Australiensis. Vol. 5. London: Lovell Reeve & Co. p. 100. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
  8. 1 2 O'Donnell, R.P.; Bruhl, J.J.; Telford, I.R.H.; Wilson, T.C.; Zimmer, H.C.; Taseski, G.M.; Andrew, R.L. (2023-02-08). "Molecular and morphological analyses support recognition of Prostanthera volucris (Lamiaceae), a new species from the Central Tablelands of New South Wales". Australian Systematic Botany. 36 (1): 1–20. doi:10.1071/SB22017.
  9. ↑ "Prostanthera volucris". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 7 September 2023.
  10. ↑ "Plants of the World Online". Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 7 September 2023.
  11. ↑ "Prostanthera 'Poorinda Snow Queen'". RHS Horticultural Databse. Retrieved 10 January 2013.
  12. ↑ Greig, D. (1987). The Australian Gardener's Wildflower Catalogue. Australia: Angus & Robertson. ISBN 0207154600.
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