Kingdom Plantae Family Lamiaceae Scientific name Prostanthera galbraithiae | Order Lamiales Genus Prostanthera Rank Species | |
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Similar Prostanthera calycina, Prostanthera walteri, Prostanthera cryptandroides | ||
Prostanthera galbraithiae, commonly known as Wellington mint-bush, is a flowering plant in the family Lamiaceae. It is endemic to Victoria in Australia.
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Description
The species is a subshrub or shrub to between 0.1 and 2 metres high. It has aromatic, sessile leaves which are usually strongly revolute and 8–15 mm long and 2–3 mm wide. The flowers are deep-mauve to purple with maroon spots in the centre and appear in September and October in the species native range.
Taxonomy
The species was first formally described by botanist Barry J. Conn in 1998 in Telopea. The species epithet is named for Jean Galbraith, a member of the Latrobe Valley Field Naturalists, who co-discovered the species and advocated for its protection.
Distribution and habitat
The species occurs on sandy soils over clay on the Gippsland plains in Holey Plains State Park. It is associated with Eucalyptus obliqua woodland with a heathy understorey including species such as Acacia oxycedrus, Epacris impressa, Lepidosperma concavum, Leptospermum myrsinoides and Platylobium obtusangulum. It can become locally common after fire. However, a population at Dutson Downs appears to have become extinct due to overly-frequent fires.