Prostanthera petraea facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Prostanthera petraea |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Prostanthera
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| Species: |
petraea
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| Occurrence data from AVH | |
Prostanthera petraea (say "pro-STAN-ther-uh PET-ree-uh") is a special kind of flowering plant. It belongs to the mint family, called Lamiaceae. This plant is found only in a small area near the border of Queensland and New South Wales in Australia. It grows as a large bush or a small tree. Its branches have ridges, and its leaves are shaped like eggs. When it blooms, it has pretty white flowers, usually without any spots or stripes.
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What Does the Rock Mint-Bush Look Like?
The Prostanthera petraea is a bush or a small tree. It usually grows to be about 1 to 3 meters (3 to 10 feet) tall. Its branches have two long ridges running along them.
The leaves of this plant are a dull olive-green on top. They are much lighter in color underneath. Each leaf is shaped like an egg. They are about 40 to 70 millimeters (1.5 to 2.7 inches) long. They are also about 12 to 26 millimeters (0.5 to 1 inch) wide. The leaves are attached to the branch by a small stalk called a petiole, which is about 5 to 12 millimeters long.
The flowers grow in groups near the ends of the branches. At the base of each flower, there are small leaf-like parts called bracteoles. These are about 2.5 to 3 millimeters long. They fall off as the flower grows bigger.
The outer parts of the flower, called sepals, are light green. They form a tube about 4.5 to 5 millimeters long. This tube has two parts, or lobes. The lower lobe is about 3.5 to 4 millimeters long. The upper lobe is about 2.5 to 3.3 millimeters long.
The petals of the flower are white. They usually do not have any markings. The petals are about 8 to 12 millimeters long. They form a tube about 5 to 6 millimeters long. This tube has two "lips." The middle part of the lower lip is about 5.5 to 7 millimeters long and 4.5 to 5.5 millimeters wide. The side parts of the lower lip are about 5 to 6 millimeters long and 3 to 3.5 millimeters wide. The upper lip is about 4 to 5 millimeters long and 10 to 12 millimeters wide. It has a small notch in the middle, about 2 to 4 millimeters long.
This plant blooms from late spring to early summer.
How Was This Plant Discovered?
The Prostanthera petraea was officially described in 2006. This means it was given its scientific name and details were written down. It was described by a scientist named Barry Conn. He wrote about it in a science journal called Telopea. The plant material he studied was collected in Bald Rock National Park in 1992.
Where Does the Rock Mint-Bush Grow?
This special mint-bush grows in woodland areas. It likes to grow among large granite rocks. You can find it in the Boonoo Boonoo and Bald Rock areas. These areas are located in the far south-east of Queensland. They are also found in the Northern Tablelands of north-eastern New South Wales.
Is the Rock Mint-Bush Safe?
The Prostanthera petraea is listed as "near threatened" in Queensland. This means that while it's not in immediate danger, its numbers are getting low. It is protected under the Queensland Government's Nature Conservation Act 1992. This law helps to protect plants and animals that are at risk.
