Common name: Hairy Mintbush
Prostanthera hirtula F.Muell. ex Benth. APNI*
Description: Spreading shrub, 0.4–2 m high, to 2.5 m diam., strongly aromatic; branches densely covered with ± spreading hairs.
Leaves with lamina narrow-ovate to narrow-elliptic, 10–30 mm long, 1.5–6 mm wide; apex subacute; base shortly attenuate; margins entire, recurved to revolute; surfaces mid green, hirsute, moderately to densely hairy; hairs ± spreading, coarse and rigid on upper surface, densely glandular on lower surface; petiole 0.5–2 mm long.
Flowers in a terminal botryoid, often leafy basally; bracteoles persistent, c. 2 mm long. Calyx 5–7 mm long; tube 3 mm long; upper lobe 2–4 mm long, slightly enlarged in fruit. Corolla 8–10 mm long, dark mauve. Anthers with appendage c. 0.5 mm long.
Flowering: spring.
Distribution and occurrence: Grows in woodland and sclerophyll forest on exposed rocky cliffs and escarpments; from the Blue Mtns to the Budawang Ra.
NSW subdivisions: NC, CC, SC, CT, ST, CWS
Other Australian states: Vic.
Text by B. J. Conn Taxon concept: Flora of NSW 3 (1992)
APNI* Provides a link to the Australian Plant Name Index (hosted by the Australian National Botanic Gardens) for comprehensive bibliographic data ***The AVH map option provides a detailed interactive Australia wide distribution map drawn from collections held by all major Australian herbaria participating in the Australian Virtual Herbarium project.
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