Prostanthera patens facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Prostanthera patens |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Prostanthera
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| Species: |
patens
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| Occurrence data from AVH | |
The Prostanthera patens is a special type of flowering plant. It belongs to the Lamiaceae family, which includes mint plants. This plant is found only in Western Australia, making it endemic to that area. It is a small shrub with stiff, spiny, and hairy branches. Its leaves are egg-shaped and also hairy. The flowers are a mix of red, orange, and pale red colors.
What it Looks Like
Prostanthera patens is a shrub that usually grows to be about 0.6 to 1 meter (about 2 to 3 feet) tall. It has stiff branches that feel a bit like spines and are covered in tiny hairs.
Its leaves are often grouped together at the ends of the branches. They are shaped like an egg or are broadly oval. Each leaf is about 1.5 to 2.5 millimeters long and 1 to 1.5 millimeters wide. They grow on a short stem called a petiole.
Each flower grows on a very hairy stalk called a pedicel, which is about 1.5 to 3.2 millimeters long. The green to maroon colored sepals (leaf-like parts protecting the flower bud) form a tube about 4 to 4.5 millimeters long. This tube has two lobes, each 2.5 to 3.5 millimeters long.
The petals of the flower are red, orange, or pale red near the bottom. They are 22 to 27 millimeters long and form a tube that is 11 to 17 millimeters long. The lower part of the petal tube has three lobes. The middle lobe is oblong and 4 to 5.5 millimeters long. The side lobes are 3 to 4 millimeters long. The upper part of the flower is 5 to 9 millimeters long and has a small notch in the middle. This plant flowers from August to October.
How it Was Named
The Prostanthera patens was officially described in 1984. This was done by a scientist named Barry Conn. He wrote about it in the Journal of the Adelaide Botanic Garden. The plant was first found in 1975 near a place called Pindar.
Where it Grows
This mintbush likes to grow in rocky areas. You can find it near granite and ironstone rocks. It lives in specific natural areas of Western Australia. These areas are known as the Avon Wheatbelt, Murchison, and Yalgoo biogeographic regions.
Its Conservation Status
The Government of Western Australia's Department of Parks and Wildlife has looked at Prostanthera patens. They have classified it as "not threatened." This means it is not currently in danger of disappearing.
