Mount Mulligan prostanthera facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mount Mulligan prostanthera |
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| Conservation status | |
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Invalid status (NCA)
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Prostanthera
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| Species: |
mulliganensis
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| Occurrence data from AVH | |
Prostanthera mulliganensis, also known as the Mount Mulligan prostanthera, is a very special flowering plant. It's a type of shrub that only grows in one place in the world: Mount Mulligan in Queensland, Australia. This makes it an endemic species, meaning it's unique to that area. It's a small bush with soft, hairy branches and pretty mauve (light purple) flowers that have darker purple markings.
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What Does the Mount Mulligan Prostanthera Look Like?
The Mount Mulligan prostanthera is a shrub that usually grows to be about 1 to 1.5 meters (about 3 to 5 feet) tall. Its branches are covered in fine hairs.
Its Leaves
The leaves are a dull green color. They are shaped like an oblong or an egg, but with the narrower end closer to the stem. Each leaf is about 15 to 20 millimeters (about 0.6 to 0.8 inches) long and 3 to 4 millimeters (about 0.1 to 0.2 inches) wide. They grow on a small stalk called a petiole, which is about 4 to 5 millimeters long.
Its Flowers
The flowers grow in small groups of two to four near the ends of the branches. Each flower sits on a tiny stalk about 3 to 3.5 millimeters long. The green sepals (leaf-like parts that protect the bud) are very hairy. They form a tube about 2.5 to 3 millimeters long with two main parts, or lobes. The top lobe is longer, about 6 to 7 millimeters, and the bottom lobe is shorter, about 2.5 to 3 millimeters.
The petals are a lovely mauve color with purple to dark mauve markings. They are about 12 to 15 millimeters long and form a tube about 8.5 to 10 millimeters long. The petals create two "lips." The central part of the lower lip is about 6 to 7.5 millimeters long, and the side parts are about 4.5 millimeters long. The upper lip is broad and oblong, about 4 to 5 millimeters long and 4.5 to 6 millimeters wide, with a small notch in the middle.
How Scientists Named This Plant
The Prostanthera mulliganensis was officially described for the first time in 2015. This happened when two scientists, Barry Conn and Trevor Wilson, studied plant samples. They published their findings in a science journal called Telopea. The samples they studied were collected right from the top of Mount Mulligan.
Where Does the Mount Mulligan Prostanthera Live?
This special mintbush is only found on Mount Mulligan. It likes to grow in soil that comes from sandstone. You can also find it clinging to the steep cliff faces of the mountain.
Why This Plant Needs Our Help
The Mount Mulligan prostanthera is listed as "critically endangered." This means it is at a very high risk of disappearing forever from the wild. The Queensland Government protects it under their Nature Conservation Act 1992 to try and save it.
