''Prostanthera densa'', commonly known as villous mint-bush, is a species of flowering plant in the family

Lamiaceae The Lamiaceae ( ) or Labiatae are a family of flowering plants commonly known as the mint, deadnettle or sage family. Many of the plants are aromatic in all parts and include widely used culinary herbs like basil, mint, rosemary, sage, savo ...

and is

endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found els ...

to near-coastal areas of New South Wales. It is an erect, often compact shrub with aromatic branches, egg-shaped leaves, and mauve flowers with orange markings inside.

Description

''Prostanthera densa'' is an erect, aromatic, often compact shrub that typically grows to a height of and has hairy branches. The leaves are egg-shaped to triangular, usually hairy, long and wide on a petiole long. The flowers are arranged singly in two to ten of the upper leaf axils with

bracteoles In botany, a bract is a modified or specialized leaf, especially one associated with a reproductive structure such as a flower, inflorescence axis or cone scale. Bracts are usually different from foliage leaves. They may be smaller, larger, or of ...

about long at the base. The

sepal A sepal () is a part of the flower of angiosperms (flowering plants). Usually green, sepals typically function as protection for the flower in bud, and often as support for the petals when in bloom., p. 106 The term ''sepalum'' was coined ...

s are hairy, sometimes tinged with purple, long and form a tube about wide with two lobes, the upper lobe long. The petals are pale mauve to mauve with orange and white markings, long, forming a tube long. The lower central lobe is long, the lower side lobes long and the upper lobes long and fused with a central notch long. There are a few flowers throughout the year, peaking in spring.

Taxonomy and naming

''Prostanthera densa'' was first formally described in 1920 by Arthur Andrew Hamilton in ''

Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales The Linnean Society of New South Wales promotes ''the Cultivation and Study of the Science of Natural History in all its Branches'' and was founded in Sydney, New South Wales (Australia) in 1874 and incorporated in 1884. History The Society succ ...

''.

Distribution and habitat

Villous mint-bush grows in forest and shrubland on the coast and nearby ranges between

Nelson Bay Nelson Bay may refer to: *Nelson Bay, New South Wales Nelson Bay is a significant township of the Port Stephens local government area in the Hunter Region of New South Wales, Australia. It is located on a bay of the same name on the southern ...

and the

Beecroft Peninsula Beecroft Peninsula is the northern headland of Jervis Bay, on Australia's east coast. On the western and southern sides of the peninsula steep sandstone cliffs rise out of the ocean, up to 91 metres at its southernmost point, Point Perpendicular. W ...

Conservation status

This mintbush is listed as "vulnerable" under the Australian Government ''

Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 The ''Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999'' (Cth) is an Act of the Parliament of Australia that provides a framework for protection of the Australian environment, including its biodiversity and its natural and cult ...

'' and the New South Wales Government '' Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016''. The main threats to the species include land clearing for urban development, dieback caused by ''

Phytophthora cinnamomi ''Phytophthora cinnamomi'' is a soil-borne water mould that produces an infection which causes a condition in plants variously called " root rot", "dieback", or (in certain ''Castanea'' species), "ink disease". The plant pathogen is one of the w ...

'', dumping of garden refuse, weed invasion and disturbance by recreational users.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q15355170 densa Flora of New South Wales Lamiales of Australia Plants described in 1920