Prostanthera nanophylla facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Prostanthera nanophylla |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Prostanthera
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| Species: |
nanophylla
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| Occurrence data from AVH | |
The Prostanthera nanophylla is a special kind of flowering plant. It belongs to the Lamiaceae family, also known as the mint family. This plant is found only in Western Australia, which means it is endemic there.
It is a small shrub with branches that feel a bit hairy. Its leaves can be shaped like an egg, an oval, or a narrow rectangle. The flowers are usually mauve, blue, or white. They often have small spots that are dull brown, maroon, or purple.
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What Does Prostanthera nanophylla Look Like?
Prostanthera nanophylla is a shrub that usually grows to be about 0.1 to 1 meter (4 inches to 3 feet) tall. Its branches are hairy and have tiny glands.
Leaves and Stems
The leaves of this plant often grow in small groups. You'll find them near the ends of the shorter branches. The leaves are small, usually about 1.5 to 4.5 millimeters long. They are also quite narrow, about 1 to 1.5 millimeters wide. They don't have a stalk, meaning they attach directly to the stem.
Flowers and Petals
The flowers grow in groups of six to ten. They appear near the ends of the branches. Each flower sits on a short, hairy stalk about 1.5 millimeters long.
The green or maroon sepals form a tube about 1.5 to 2.5 millimeters long. This tube has two parts, called lobes. The lower lobe is about 3 to 4 millimeters long. The upper lobe is a bit longer, about 3 to 5 millimeters long.
The petals are the colorful part of the flower. They can be mauve, blue, or white. They often have dull brown, maroon, or purple spots. The petals are 8 to 14 millimeters long. They form a tube that is about 7.5 to 10 millimeters long.
The lower part of the petal tube has three lobes. The middle lobe is shaped like an egg and is about 6 to 7 millimeters long. The two side lobes are smaller, about 2.5 to 4.5 millimeters long. The upper part of the petal tube is about 3 millimeters long and 6 to 8 millimeters wide. It has a small notch in the middle.
This plant usually flowers from August to November.
How Was Prostanthera nanophylla Named?
The Prostanthera nanophylla was first officially described in 1988. This was done by a scientist named Barry Conn. He wrote about it in a science journal called Nuytsia.
He based his description on plant samples. These samples were collected in 1975 near Koorda. The person who collected them was Joseph Zvonko Weber.
Where Does Prostanthera nanophylla Grow?
This type of mintbush likes to grow in rocky areas. It also grows on sandy plains. You can find it in several biogeographic regions of Western Australia. These areas include the Avon Wheatbelt, Coolgardie, and Mallee regions.
Is Prostanthera nanophylla Protected?
The Government of Western Australia's Department of Parks and Wildlife keeps track of this plant. They have classified Prostanthera nanophylla as "Priority Three".
This means that scientists don't know a lot about it yet. It has only been found in a few places. However, it is not currently in immediate danger of disappearing.
