Prostanthera rotundifolia

Prostanthera rotundifolia, commonly known as round-leaved mintbush[2] or round-leaf mint-bush[3] is a species of flowering plant in the family Lamiaceae and is endemic to south-eastern Australia. It is an erect shrub with aromatic branches covered with short hairs and glands, egg-shaped to more or less round leaves and purple to mauve or pinkish flowers on the ends of branchlets.

Round-leaved mintbush
Mount Arapiles-Tooan State Park, Western Victoria, Australia
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Lamiales
Family: Lamiaceae
Genus: Prostanthera
Species:
P. rotundifolia
Binomial name
Prostanthera rotundifolia
Occurrence data from AVH

Description

Prostanthera rotundifolia is an erect, compact to spreading shrub that typically grows to 0.5–3 m (1 ft 8 in–9 ft 10 in) high and 1.5–2.5 m (4 ft 11 in–8 ft 2 in) wide with aromatic branches that are covered with short hairs and sessile glands. The leaves are egg-shaped to more or less round, 3–20 mm (0.12–0.79 in) long and 3–15 mm (0.12–0.59 in) wide on a petiole 2–8 mm (0.079–0.315 in) long. The flowers are arranged in leaf axils near the ends of branchlets with bracteoles 1–2 mm (0.039–0.079 in) but that fall off as the flower develops. The sepals are 4–5 mm (0.16–0.20 in) long forming a tube 2–3.5 mm (0.079–0.138 in) long with two lobes, the upper lobe 1.5–2 mm (0.059–0.079 in) long. The petals are purple to pinkish and 2–8 mm (0.079–0.315 in) long forming a cup-shaped tube. Flowering occurs from September to November.[2][3][4][5][6]

Taxonomy and naming

Prostanthera rotundifolia was first formally described in 1810 by Robert Brown in his treatise Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae et Insulae Van Diemen.[7][8] The specific epithet rotundifolia means "rounded leaves".[9]

Distribution and habitat

Round-leaved mintbush is widespread and locally common in woodland, forest and rainforest margins, often in rocky places in the eastern half of New South Wales and the southern half of Victoria. It also occurs in northern and eastern Tasmania but where it is less common and is listed as "vulnerable" under the Tasmanian Government Threatened Species Protection Act 1995.[2][3][4]

Use in horticulture

In cultivation the species and the cultivar ‘Rosea’[10] have gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.[11][12]

References
  1. "Prostanthera rotundifolia". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
  2. Conn, Barry J. "Prostanthera rotundifolia R.Br". Royal Botanic Garden Sydney. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
  3. Conn, Barry J. "Prostanthera rotundifolia R.Br". Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
  4. "Prostanthera rotundifolia" (PDF). Tasmanian Government Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
  5. RHS A-Z encyclopedia of garden plants. United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. 2008. p. 1136. ISBN 978-1405332965.
  6. "Prostanthera rotundifolia". Australian Native Plants Society Australia. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
  7. "Prostanthera rotundifolia". APNI. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
  8. Brown, Robert (1810). Prodromus florae Novae Hollandiae et Insulae Van-Diemen, exhibens characteres plantarum. London: typis R. Taylor et socii,1810. p. 509. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
  9. Harrison, Lorraine (2012). RHS Latin for gardeners. United Kingdom: Mitchell Beazley. p. 224. ISBN 9781845337315.
  10. "RHS Plantfinder - Prostanthera rotundifola 'Rosea'". Retrieved 28 May 2018.
  11. "RHS Plant Selector - Prostanthera rotundifolia". Retrieved 27 June 2013.
  12. "AGM Plants - Ornamental" (PDF). Royal Horticultural Society. July 2017. p. 82. Retrieved 23 September 2018.
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