Prostanthera lanceolata facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Prostanthera lanceolata |
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| In Sherwood Nature Reserve | |
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| Genus: |
Prostanthera
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| Species: |
lanceolata
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Prostanthera lanceolata is a type of flowering plant. It belongs to the Lamiaceae family, also known as the mint family. This plant is special because it only grows in the coastal areas of eastern Australia. It's an upright, bushy plant with a nice smell. Its stems are square, and its leaves are shaped like eggs. The flowers are a pretty purple or bluish-purple color.
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What Does This Plant Look Like?
Prostanthera lanceolata is an upright, bushy plant. It usually grows to be about 3 to 4 meters tall. Its branches have a square shape.
Leaves and Flowers
The leaves are a medium to dark green color. They are lighter on the underside. Each leaf is shaped like a narrow egg or a regular egg. They are about 15 to 25 millimeters long and 9 to 12 millimeters wide. A small stalk, called a petiole, connects the leaf to the stem. This stalk is about 2 to 5 millimeters long.
The flowers grow in groups near the ends of the branches. Small leaf-like parts, called bracteoles, are found at the base of the flowers. These are about 1 millimeter long. They fall off as the flower grows. The sepals, which are like small leaves that protect the flower bud, are about 4 millimeters long. They form a tube about 2 millimeters long. This tube has two parts, or lobes. The top lobe is about 1.5 to 2 millimeters long.
The petals of the flowers are a lovely mauve or deep bluish-purple color. They are about 8 to 12 millimeters long. This plant usually blooms in the spring. In Queensland, this plant is sometimes grouped with another similar species called Prostanthera ovalifolia.
Where Does This Plant Grow?
This mintbush plant grows in forests. You can find it in the coastal areas of New South Wales and Queensland in Australia.
How Was This Plant Named?
The plant Prostanthera lanceolata was first officially described in 1928. A scientist named Karel Domin wrote about it in a book called Bibliotheca Botanica. He had collected samples of the plant near the "Tambourine Mountains" in 1910.
