''Prostanthera violacea'', commonly known as violet 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, savory ...

and is endemic to south-eastern New South Wales. It is a slender, strongly aromatic shrub with densely hairy branches, more or less round leaves with the edges rolled under and mauve to bluish flowers often with white tips.

Description

''Prostanthera violacea'' is a slender, strongly aromatic shrub that typically grows to a height of and has densely hairy branches. The leaves are more or less round but usually appear egg-shaped because the edges are rolled under. The leaves are long and wide on a petiole long. The flowers are borne singly in leaf axils, each flower with bracteoles long under the sepals. The sepals are long forming a tube long with two lobes, the upper lobe about long. The petals are mauve to bluish, often with white tips, long. Flowering occurs in spring.

Taxonomy

''Prostanthera violacea'' was formally described in 1810 by Robert Brown in his treatise '' Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae et Insulae Van Diemen''.

Distribution and habitat

Violet mint-bush grows in forest, including rainforest, often in gullies or near watercourses, and is found on the coast and tablelands of south-eastern New South Wales.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q15355595 violacea Flora of New South Wales Lamiales of Australia Plants described in 1810 Taxa named by Robert Brown (botanist, born 1773)