Prostanthera schultzii is a species of flowering plant in the family Lamiaceae and is endemic to the Northern Territory. It is a shrub with heart-shaped to round or paddle-shaped leaves and white flowers with purple spots and yellow patches on the lower lip.
| Prostanthera schultzii | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Lamiales |
| Family: | Lamiaceae |
| Genus: | Prostanthera |
| Species: | P. schultzii
|
| Binomial name | |
| Prostanthera schultzii | |
| |
| Occurrence data from AVH | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
|
Wrixonia schultzii (F.Muell. ex Tate) Carrick | |
Description
editProstanthera schultzii is a shrub that typically grows to a height of 0.5–1.5 m (1 ft 8 in – 4 ft 11 in) and has branches that become stiff and spine-like with age. The leaves are heart-shaped to round or paddle-shaped, 4–12 mm (0.16–0.47 in) long on a short petiole. The flowers are sessile and arranged in groups on the ends of branches with sepals forming a tube 3–3.5 mm (0.12–0.14 in) long with two lobes. The petals are white with purple spots and yellow patches on the lower lip and form a tube about 7 mm (0.28 in) long. The lower lip of the petal tube has three lobes, the centre lobe 5 mm (0.20 in) wide and the side lobes about 4 mm (0.16 in) long and 3 mm (0.12 in) wide. The upper lip has two lobes 3–3.5 mm (0.12–0.14 in) long and 2–2.5 mm (0.079–0.098 in) wide. Flowering occurs in April and July and from September to November.[2][3][4]
Taxonomy
editProstanthera schultzii was first formally described in 1896 by Ralph Tate from an unpublished description by Ferdinand von Mueller and the description was published in Report on the work of the Horn Scientific Expedition to Central Australia. The type specimens were collected on the "higher slopes of Mount Sonder".[5][6] In 1976, John Carrick changed the name to Wrixonia schultzii but in 2012 Trevor Wilson, Murray Henwood and Barry Conn changed the name back to P. schultzii.[4][7]
Distribution and habitat
editThis mintbush grows in sheltered upper slopes of the Chewings Range in the West MacDonnell National Park of the Northern Territory.[2][8]
Conservation status
editProstanthera schultzii is classified as "vulnerable" under the Australian Government Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 and the Northern Territory Government Territory Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act 1976.[2][3]
References
edit- ^ a b "Prostanthera schultzii". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 22 September 2020.
- ^ a b c Nano, Catherine; Kerrigan, Raelee; Albrecht, David. "Prostanthera (Wrixonia) schultzii (Tate) Carrick" (PDF). Northern Territory Government. Retrieved 22 September 2020.
- ^ a b "Prostanthera schultzii". Northern Territory Government. Retrieved 22 September 2020.
- ^ a b Carrick, John (1976). "Studies in Australian Lamiaceae 1. The Genus Wrixonia F.Muell. (Prostantheroideae)" (PDF). Journal of the Adelaide Botanic Gardens. 1 (1): 30–33. Retrieved 22 September 2020.
- ^ Tate, Ralph (1896). Report on the work of the Horn Scientific Expedition to Central Australia. London: Dulau 1896. p. 173. Retrieved 22 September 2020.
- ^ "Prostanthera schultzii". APNI. Retrieved 22 September 2020.
- ^ Wilson, Trevor C; Henwood, Murray J.; Conn, Barry J. (16 August 2012). "Status of the genus Wrixonia F.Muell. (Lamiaceae)". Telopea. 14: 1–3. doi:10.7751/telopea2012001.
- ^ "Approved Conservation Advice for Wrixonia schultzii" (PDF). Australian Government Department of the Environment. Retrieved 22 September 2020.