Prostanthera cryptandroides

Wollemi Mint Bush
Conservation status
Vulnerable  (EPBC Act)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Asterids
Order:	Lamiales
Family:	Lamiaceae
Genus:	Prostanthera
Species:	P. cryptandroides
Binomial name
Prostanthera cryptandroides A.Cunn. ex Benth.

Prostanthera cryptandroides is a Mint Bush, found in New South Wales and Queensland, Australia. The habitat is rocky areas in dry eucalyptus woodland. The pleasant mint fragrance is from aromatic oils within their leaves, such as oil of cineol.^[1]

The Wollemi Mint Bush occurs in a few sites, such as within Wollemi National Park. Near Glen Davis it grows in association with the Red Ironbark, on soils derived from the Narrabeen group of sedimentary rocks.^[2] The fragmented populations of this rare species are threatened by wildfires.^[3]

This particularly fragrant shrub grows up to two metres tall, though most often it is around one metre tall and wide. Leaves are a pale green, 5 to 9 mm long, 1 to 3 mm wide. The shape of the plant shows wide spreading branches. Branches may be stained by a sooty mould. Attractive pink or lilac flowers form in the warmer months of the year. Though flowering may occur sporadically. The original specimen was collected by the explorer Allan Cunningham.

Two varieties are recognised:

• P. cryptandroides var. cryptandroides, found between Glen Davis in the south and Denman in the north.^[4]
• P. cryptandroides var. euphrasioides, found from the North Western Slopes and Plains in New South Wales to north Queensland.^[5]

References