Prostanthera ovalifolia

Prostanthera ovalifolia
Prostanthera ovalifolia at Eastwood, Australia
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Asterids
Order: Lamiales
Family: Lamiaceae
Genus: Prostanthera
Species: P. ovalifolia
Binomial name
Prostanthera ovalifolia
R.Br.

Prostanthera ovalifolia, known as the oval-leaf mintbush or purple mintbush, is one of about 90 Australian endemic species from the genus Prostanthera. Known as Australian mints or native mints.

This widespread and commonly seen plant is a branched woody shrub, which may reach up 4 metres tall. It has dark green round leaves 5 to 40 mm long and 3 to 10 mm wide. Prostanthera ovalifolia occurs in wet and dry sclerophyll forests, often on sandstone.

Flowers are mauve or a deep purple blue, occurring between August and November.

Its native distribution is in Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria.

References