PROSTANTHERA & WESTRlNGlA STUDY GROUP NEWSLETTER

NUMBER PROSTANTHERA & STUDY GROUP NEWSLETTER NO. 14

ISSN 0818 3341 September 1988

PATRON LEADER George Althofer Brian Timmis 60 Thornton Street "Coach & Horses Inn" WELLINGTON, NSW Jellore Street BERRIMA, 2577, NSW Ph. (048) 771 242 EDITORS Barry Conn & Brian Timmis

MEMBERSHIP: The Prostanthera and Westringia Study Group is for all those who are interested in the cultivation of Mint bushes and Westringias which have been collected from the wild.

FEES: $4:00. Please make sure that you are a f.inancia1 member. Fees Last Paid: / /19 . DUE-

The Society for Growing Australian 1 Those left out were in 12 inch pots, standing behind the shade house. At 5 a.m. next morning, the temperature was Back Issues Are Available about -2OC and of course, a frost. A limited number of back issues of the "Prostanthera & Westringia Study Group Whilst dark, I hosed the frost Newsletter" are available for off (I had put the hose away sale. Numbers 11, 12 and 13 the night before) and went are available at $3.00 each back to bed. At 6.30 a.m. I (including postage). Contact checked my plants and was Brian if you wish to purchase horrified to find then all any Newsletters. frozen lumps of ice, "Okay, I will hose this off", I thought to myself. But, the hose had now frozen also. Fortunately, at about 7.45 a.m., the sun finally rose and the problem Gone to Berrima was solved - plants survived! or Gone Bananas!

Brian Timmis ***** Berrima, NSW [I suppose, if all else had Can you trust the Study Group failed, Brian could have taken Leader? up ice sculpturing! - Barry] ***** Lurking somewhere in my mind, I had this theory, "If you have a frost on your frost FRONT COVER tender plants, then you simply hose the frost away and go The illustration on the Front back to the warm bed ... JOB Cover is one of the variants DONE ! ! of .

My move from Sydney to ****% Berrima on the 4th of August was completed with one big furniture van, with driver and offsider - one third furniture and two thirds Prostantheras in pots. Prior to the move, I had erected a 6 X 4 metre' shadehouse to house my collection. Unfortunately, they all would not fit in. 2 and any other features that may not be adequately preserved when the specimens are dried.

(ii) Basic habitat Westringia descriptions, e.g. soil type (sandy, Robert Miller rocky, etc); aspect Picnic Point, NSW (northerly, southerly, etc); and associations It is now time for the (what is it growing Study Group to begin to expand with? - Eucalypt its Westringia collection. forest, shrubland, Help is required by all swamp, etc). members to collect and grow species and forms from wild A dried and pressed sources. To make a worthwhile herbarium specimen should sc-ientific conLriLuLion to the be submi-tted to nn-e of- aims of the Group, a few very the State Herbaria. This- simple procedures should be enables the identity of followed by all members. this plant to be check at a later date, should the 1. Always record details of the be of LOCATION, DATE OF change. In the case of COLLECTION, and Westringia, there will COLLECTOR'S NAME. almost certainly be changes! Barry Conn will This is best done at the gladly identify site of collection. herbarium specimens which Invariably, confusion will are donated to the occur at a latter date if this National Herbarium of New procedure is not observed, South Wales. especially if a number of collections are made. I HAVE BEEN THERE AND DONE THAT!!! 2. Collect at least one pressed specimen as a voucher. Record the above details. Additional information should be recorded if collecting specimens to be submitted for identification, such as: (i) Colour of corolla, presence of pollination guides, Species and forms of Westringia currently held in the Prostanthera & Westringia Study Group Collection

W. amabalis - collected from Little Nellie Mt, N of Taree, NSW - from Mt Yarrappinnii, Kempsey, NSW W. blakleyana - Mynoin Falls, N of Lismore, NSW

W. cheellii - Goonoo Goonoo State Forest, Dubbo, NSW

W. davidii - from the National Botanic Gardens, Canberra, ACT W. eremicola - from the Burrendong Arboretum, NSW W. glabra - from the Burrendong Arboretum, NSW W. longifolia - Douglas Park, Campbelltown, NSW - Honeysuckle Creek, Cox's Gap, NSW - Hume Highway, S of Campbelltown, NSW W. sericea - Cangai State Forest, W of Grafton, NSW W. sp. aff. amabalis - Moleyard Creek, Torrington, NSW

W. amabalis - from Mr Sam Jack (Blue Mts SGAP Region) W. brevifolia var. raleighi - "Wyngabbie Gem", from Mrs Hilda Herbert W. eremicol a var . quaterna - Bankstown City Council Wildflower Reserve, Sylvan Grove, Picnic Point, NSW

W. glabra "wide leaf" form - Sydney Wildflower Nursery W. longifolia - Bankstown City Council Wildflower Reserve, Sylvan Grove, Picnic Point, NSW

W, longifolia "pale blue" form - Bankstown City Council Wildflower Reserve. Prostanthera megacalyx are held by any herbarium and these proved to be inadequate for me to compile a Science and the Amateur description that would be comparable with the other descriptions in the genus. Barry Conn For example, none of the collections recorded the flower colour! An urgent call As mentioned in the last to Betty resulted in excellent Newsletter (No. 13), the collections, by far the best Prostanthera & Westringia Study that exist, with copious Group provided a display of information on the habitat, prostantheras, as a joint habit, flower colour and other exhibit with the National features that are required in Herbarium of New South Wales. a species description. The aim of the display was to Ida and Garth Jackson of show that amateur enthusiasts Kingscote, Kangaroo Island and professional botanists can (South Australia) are two and-do work togcther to-the ~t.heramateurs who provided mutual benefit of each group. detailed information on the It should be stressed that prostantheras of Kangaroo anyone can make a very real Island. Their assistance was contribution to our particularly helpful when I understanding of our flora, was working on section without having a formally Kl anderia. trained scientific background. In Western Australia, A number of people have Basil and Mary Smith have assisted me considerably in my provided many collections of work on the Labiatae. The plants that are poorly known. contribution made by George and Their excellent collections Peter Althofer, Brian Timmis have been the basis of many and Robert Miller is hopefully descriptions. Assistance in well known by all of us, but the field and other there are others who are information has resulted in probably less well known, but the publication of several new no less significant. An species both in the Labiatae example which immediately and in other families. comes to mind is the There are many people contribution that has been that I could name. They made by Betty Ballingal of represent a very diverse group Oakey, Queensland, of people; doctors, I was asked to prepare an housewives, farmers, post- account of the prostantheras masters, industrial chemists, that occur in the area covered teachers and so on. Some have by the "Flora of Central made only a small contribution Australia". This was to be for whereas others have made a the second edition (which now large contribution, but the appears to have been abandoned one thing that all these by the publishers). Only a people have in common is a few htrbarium collections of sincere interest in the sincere interest in the environment. Study Groups are an ideal way that people can assist professional botanists understand the flora. My concluding comment is, do not under-estimate the contribution that you can make.****

IN THE

many of these, such as the Cultivation of Prostanthera Waratah, Boronia serrulata, & Westringia Lechenaultia species, and of course, Prostanthera Brian Timmis megacalyx. In general, Berrima, NSW Prostantheras perform well on a sheltered southerly aspect and Westringias are more In this article, I will tolerant and can grow in most provide guide lines for growing places. Prostanthera and Westringia species in the Sydney Region. Selecting Suitable Plants The most ardent of us will persevere with almost any plant With some exceptions, and will usually succeed. I most Commercial Nurseries relate this statement to two stock a reasonable range of identities, namely Frank Prostanthera and Westringia Hadfield and Tony Henderson. species and hybrids. These Horticulturally, plants fall plants are the old faithfuls into various groups from of the Nursery Trade, namely outstanding to uninteresting, Westringia fruticosa, W. from difficult to grow to those linearis, W. "Blue Heaven" and that multiply like weeds. other cultivars, and Usually we seem to want the Prostanthera ovalifolia, P. most outstanding plants that rotundifolia, P. lasianthos, probably are the most P. incana, P. incisa, P. difficult to grow. There are saxicola var . montana, P. nivea var. induta and a form years. Insects do leave them of P. scutellarioides that for alone, the only notable some mysterious reason, is exception is a type of moth sold as P. phylicifolia! Note borer that lives in a shallow that P. phylicifolia has white hole, usually low down on the flowers and P. scutellarioides main trunk of a young plant. has purple/mauve/violet This insect can actually ring flowers. bark the plant under the cover of a webbing it uses to In selecting suitable disguise its activity. It can plants, consideration of the be a serious problem if not plants requirements must come removed. Like most native first, next you can offer this plants Prostantheras and plant a suitable home. To Westringias like well-drained assist, I have included a open soil, heavy clay soils of chart that may help to avo2d the outer western suburbs of selecting a plant that may not Sydney are not suitable at perform as required. This all. chart also becomes a valuable A tendency to plant record for future reference. Prostantheras close to You will have to do some buildings facing south is not research to find out about the- r*ecurureet~declas they become flowering times, habit, soil "leggy" and one-sided. requirements, etc of the Furthermore, south westerly plants you may be considering. winds can blow them over. Remember that libraries and Ideally, a light Eucalyptus other plant growers are an canopy suits them. I prefer invaluable scurce of to grow Prostantheras fairly information. It may seem to be close together. Firstly they a lot of effort to go to just provide a more spectacular to plant up a garden, but you display, particularly during will avoid many errors caused their main flowering period, by ignorance. The result will and secondly, they tend to be a more satisfying garden. support each other against wind damage. Use Growing Requirements Prostantheras with other plants. For example, the Prostanthera and white flowering form of P. Westringia are not difficult incana is brilliant when it is to grow if you have made the growing with Grevillea "Robyn right selection (as outlined Gordon". in the accompanying chart). Prostantheras are Other considerations are soil regarded as short-term plants, types, water availability, although they can last for root competition in existing many years. I prefer to treat garden, protection in new them as short-term plants as I garden and air spaces - that like to replace them with is room to grow naturally. younger plants. Since Generally, Prostantheras and propagating them is usually no Westringias are easy to grow, problem, it seems easier to although they are often maintain a younger garden. difficult to maintain for many Notes: The height could be preferred or desired heights. Pruning would give best control. Prostantheras respond well to heavy pruning after flowering. If they become straggly or leggy probably reduced by 1/3 in height. Remember: carefully cut above a node, not leaving any internode remaining to die back. Seeds Growing from seeds is basically a waste of time, Several times I have purchased or collected seeds and have had negative results. However, with the right conditions seedlings will appear where Prostantheras are being cultivated. Many interesting hybrids have happened this way. Les Taylor MORE RAVINGS OF A MINT LOVER and Robert Miller have an incredible amount of unusual Roger Bagley hybrids always appearing in Blaxland, NSW the ground or amongst other plants growing in pots. Mints seems to do quite well in Blaxland, and for this I am quite grateful. As for - --- Cuttings are easy with a another favouri Le genus of little practise, Anyone can mine, Grevillea, it is causing do them. me much frustration and heartbreak - so few of this Grafting fascinating group seem to survive. However, with Prostantheras respond Prostanthera, very few fail to readily to grafting. There make it. are some difficult to My soil is a light to propagate species and many medium textured loam, full of difficult to grow species, but small to medium sized pieces these can be grafted. of generally flat ironstone. Basically grafting techniques The top 6 inches is a dark are illustrated in the grey soil that is built up Canberra Botanic Gardens with humus over the centuries, "Growing Native Plants" volume basically from the overhead 7 (1977), page 157, No canopy of the dominant research related to grafting Eucalyptus gummifera. These Prostantheras and Westringias trees shade the mints that has been extensively seem to revel in these undertaken since this work. I conditions. The next 18 doubt if there has been a inches is no doubt of the same follow-up program. Frank composition, but it is a Hadfield has been very yellowish colour. It lacks successful with some of the humus, but still contains many rare Prostantheras and, stones and has a slightly working with unequalled heavier texture. Below this enthusiasm, Robert Miller has layer is the base material been quietly achieving great which is of a shalely nature results with grafting during and continues down for several the past few years. metres, whereupon bedrock may be reached. The bedrock is a red-purple, just a little bit hard sandstone-ironstone distinctive to all the other mixture. purple shades. The structure of the soil I can not end this ramble makes for reasonably good of the shady places without drainage, and although the making mention of a long fertility is quite poor, mints lived, hardy plant that is one and many other native plants of my originals of about ten grow steadily without any years. According to Les artificial fertilizer. Taylor, it is Prostanthera Although, whilst young, all scutellarioides - a north plants are well mulched with coast form. It survives broken down straw or very old without watering in a dry, horse manure. After this, I rather sunny spot. It always let the falling leaves of the looks charming in flower with bloodwoods continue their good the mauve-violet colour being work. set off by a foil of neat deep Why these conditions green linear leaves. This should not suit Grevilleas plant has outlived many other equally well is a mystery to mints and indeed, many other me, particularly in the sunny native plants. When it spots, May be they require finally heeds the call, it more water than the mints to will be survived by a number get them going? Oh well! of its' clones. So there is Keep on trying! no need to worry! Previously I regarded the So much time has elapsed copious amount of rocks to be now since beginning this a great nuisance and fit for article, that spot flowering disposal at the local rubbish is now taking place in the tip. However, now I not only garden. Flowers are appearing refrain from dumping them, but on several colour forms of P. actually go to some amount of rotundifol ia and P. linearis, trouble to get them all back indicating that the cycle is under the ground if possible. still in progress. As the The main reasons being, they hundreds or maybe thousands of help to anchor roots against tiny buds first make their burfeting winds and help appearance along t,he branches, ' afford a cool, moist root run, telling us that spring is particularly important with along the way. Boronj-as. But the mintbush lover Another favourite mint is does not have to wait for a lovely hybrid between P. spring for his rewards. He or incana and P. melissifolia she can savour the essence of going by the name of a dozen different oi1.s at any Prostanthera "Poorinda Leane". time of the year as one This one features fairly wanders through the shady large, soft hairy leaves, mintbush domain. rather like P. incana and is sweet smelling. But, its' most endearing feature is its' rather largish flowers that have a most appealing shade of THE LENS

Prostantheras of South Australia Barry Conn Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney, NSW

There are fourteen species of Prostanthera in South Australia, of which seven only occur within this State. Unfortunately, three taxa, involving one name change and two new, undescribed species, are still without validly published names. These changes were submitted for publication late in 1985, but are as yet, still unpublished! Hopefully, they will be published this year. So as not to complicate the citation of the place of publication involving these changes, they are only referred to as species 'A', 'B', and 'C' in this article. The correct names will be published in the Newsletter as soon as the names are available for public use.

Key to Species la. Corolla with lower median lobe + equal to upper median lobe- pair; corolla red, orange, yellow or dark (metallic) blue- green, rarely mauve; calyx with lower lobe remaining + directed outwards and forward or recurved, not enclosing the mericarps, lobes 2 equal in length [section Klanderial

2a. Hairs irregularly branched, + densely covering branches, leaves, pedicels and calyx ...... ,...... 1. PI chlorantha 2b. Hairs simple (unbranched), sometimes with a few branched hairs on the calyx, but never on branches or leaves 3a. Hairs of branches, leaves and calyces stiff, straight, appressed and antrorse ...,..m...... ,m....3. P. calycina 3b. Hairs of branches, leaves and calyces 2 soft, recurved to reflexed, never appressed, frequently curled 4a. Leaves ovate to narrowly ovate, sometimes suborbicular ...... 2. P. serpyllifolia 4b. Leaves 2 terete to linear-obovate 5a. Anther appendage to 0.3(-0.5) mm long; calyx 5-7 mm long ...... 4. P. aspalathoides 5b. Anther appendage 1-2.5 mm long; calyx 7-12 mm long ...... ,...... I..... 5. P. florifera lb. Corolla with lower median lobe longer than the upper median lobe-pair; corolla white, pale-blue, mauve, purple, sometimes with a tinge of pink; calyx with lower lobe folded inward over the mericarps, upper lobe significantly longer than the lower lobe [section Prostanthera] 6a, Branches with spines

7a. Calyx lobes very unequal; shrub glabrous except for a few hairs at distal nodes; branching 2 patent and distant ...... 6. P. nudula

7b. Calyx lobes 2 equal; shrub usually hairy; branching 2 erect and relatively crowded ...... 7. P, spinosa 6b. Branches not spiny 8a. Leaves terete ...... 8. P. sp C

8b. Leaves 2 flat or recurved, not terete

9a. Upper calyx lobe 2 equal to lower calyx lobe; leaves 1.5-2.5 mm long ...... 9. P. eurybioides

9b. Upper calyx lobe much longer than the lower calyx lobe; leaves at least 4 mm long, rarely as short as 2.8 mm 10a. Pedicels, bracteoles and calyces glabrous or sparsely hairy; corolla white with purple striations ...... 10. P. striatiflora lob. Pedicels, bracteoles and calyces moderately to densely hairy; corolla a mauve pale violet, blue to white, purple striations may be present

lla. Calyx not enlarged in fruit; leaves sparsely to densely hairy, sometimes sparsely hairy adaxially, often glabrous abaxially ...... me...... ,... 11. P. behriana llb. Calyx enlarged in fruit; leaves sparsely to densely hairy on both surfaces 12a. Hairs appressed to patent, antrorse to retrorse, hence indumentum appearing scruffy ...... 12. P. wilkeana 12b. Hairs appressed, antrorse, hence indumentum appearing f smooth 13a. Bracteoles 3.8-8.1 mm long, 0.4-1.1. mm wide; branches, leaves and calyces silky

m...m.*~...rn.~*mm.....*...~.. 13. P. SP. A

13b. Bracteoles 0.7-3.6 rnm long, 0.1-0.4 mm wide; branches silky, but leaves and calyces usually not appearing silky ... 14. P. sp. B

1, Prostanthera chlorantha usually slightly extended to (F.v. Muell.) F.v. Muell. ex form a minute basal appendage. Benth. Pistil 17-22 mm long; style 15-18 mm long. Small shrub to 0.5 (-1) m high, hairs mostly irregularly. This species is endemic to Leaves with petiole absent or South Australia - Murray less than 0.5 mm long; lamina Mallee, Mt Lofty Block (incl. suborbicular to broad-ovate, 1- Kangaroo Island), Southern 3 (-4) x 1-2.5 (-3) mm; base Highlands and Plains [Eyre rounded; margin entire, Peninsula]. strongly recurved especially towards base and so lamina This conservationally appearing triangular; apex endangered species forms small obtuse to rounded. Pedicel 5- populations of a few scattered 13 mm long. Calyx 8-12 mm plants, on sandy and loamy long, green, often with red- soils. It is commonly purple ribs (streaks), associated with Banksia, especially on tube; outer , Comosperma, and surface ramosely tomentose and shrubland. lepidote; tube 5-6 mm long. Corolla 15-25 mm long, mauve, This species is readily blue-green, dusty green-red to identified by the presence of green-yellow with a pink irregularly branched hairs. tinge; inner surface lacking P. serpyllifolia ssp. dark spots, with microphylla ( from Kangaroo filaments c. 5 mm long; Island) is the only other anthers 1.5-2 mm long; taxon which has similar although appendage appearing indumentum. However, the absent, one side of connective latter taxon has fewer branched hairs than those of Lofty Block (incl. Kangaroo P. chlorantha. Furthermore, Island), Yorke and Eyre ssp. microphylla the branched Peninsulas; and Western hairs occur only on the calyx. Australia - south-eastern Other features including habit Eremaean and South West. and leaf shape, suggest close affinities between these two This species is considered not taxa. to be endangered. It frequently occurs in Mallee communities, particularly on 2. Prostanthera serpyllifolia loamy and sandy soils which (R. Br.) Briq. are overlying and associated with limestone, frequently Small shrub to 0.5 (-1.6) m with outcrops of calcrete. high, moderately to densely hairy. Leaves with petiole Key to subspecies absent or up to 1.5 (-3) mm long; lamina ovate to broadly la. Lamina 4-13 x 1-4 (-6) elliptic (rarely mm, + flat (straight), suborbicular), to oblong- usually not recurved or ovate, (I-) 1.5-13 x (0.5-) reflexed, leaves not 0.7-4 (-6) mm; base clustered; petiole 0.4- subattenuate to rounded; 1.5 (-3) mm long; pedicel margin entire, recurved; apex 3-15 mm long; calyx (6-) obtuse to rounded. Pedicel 8-12 mm long (0.8-) 1-5 (-13) mm long...... Calyx (4.3-) 5-12 mm long, 2.1 ssp. serpyllifolia maroon or green; outer surface glabrous, or with a few lb. Lamina (I-) 1.5-3 (-3.5) scattered hairs to densely x 0.5-1 (-1.5) mm, hairy; tube 3-6 (-7) mm long. recurved to reflexed Corolla 15-22 mm long, pink to and/or majority of mid-red, mid (metallic) blue- foliage occurring on green, occasionally yellow; short lateral axes so inner surface paler than outer that leaves appearing surface; tube 9-17 mm long. clustered; petiole absent Stamens with filaments c. 5.5- or up to 0.3 (-0.5)rnrn 9 mm long; anthers 1-2 mm long; pedicel 0.7-2.5 (- long; connective basally 5) mm long; calyx (4.3-) extended to form 1 or 2 short 5-7.5 (-9.5) mm long appendages (0.1-) 0.4-1.4 mm ...... long, appendage rarely absent. 2.2 ssp. microphylla Pistil 20-24 mm long; style 19-23 mm long, 2.1 ssp. serpyllifolia This species occurs in Queensland (?Toowoomba); New Branches moderately to densely South Wales - Central Western hairy. Leaves arranged along Slopes, South Western Plains; the axis and branches, not Victoria - western Northern clustered along short axes, Plains, Mallee; South sparsely to moderately hairy, Australia - Murray Mallee, Mt often glabrous; petiole 0.3- 1.5 (-2) mm long; lamina 2.2 ssp. microphylla (R. Br.) broadly elliptic to ovate- Conn oblong, 4-13 x 1-4 (-6) mm. Pedicels (1.5-) 2.5-5 (-13) mm Branches moderately to densely long, usually sparsely hairy or hairy; hairs often appearing glabrous. Calyx (6-) 8-12 mm curled ., Leaves usually long, usually maroon, sometimes clustered on short axes and green; tube 4-6 (-7) mm long; arranged (unclustered) along lobes 3-4.5 (-5) mm long. long axes; leaves sessile or Corolla red, often with yellow with petiole to 0.3 (-0.5) mm tinge distally, or metallic long; lamina ovate to broadly blue-green, occasionally elliptic, rarely narrowly yellow. ovate, (I-) 1.5-3 (-3.8) x (0.5-) 0.7-1.3 (-2.7) mm, This subspecies occurs in often reflexed; base obtuse to South Australia - [Yorke rounded, sometimes + truncate. Peninsula] Southern York Pedicels (0.8-) 1-3.5 (-4.8) Peninsula; - Western Pastoral: mm long. Calyx (4.3-) 5-7.5 ?Gawler Ranges; - [Eyre (-9.5) mm long, maroon or Peninsula] Central Mallee & green; tube 3-5 mm long; lobes Dunes, West Coast; Southern 1.5-2.2 mm long. Corolla Highlands & Plains; and bright pink Lu mid-red often Western Australia - (Eremaean: white basally, and/or with Coolgardie). yellow tinge distally or light metallic blue-green. It grows on calcarenite ridges in sandy to sandy loam soils This subspecies occurs in New of undulating c,alcreted plains South Wales - Central Western in Mallee communities. At Slopes, South Western Plains; Innes National Park (York Victoria - western Northern Peninsula) it occurs on the Plains, Mallee; South limestone cliffs in shallow Australia - Murray Mallee, Mt skeletal calcareous sands, Lofty Block (incl. Kangaroo whereas at Mount Greenly (Eyre Island), Yorke and Eyre Peninsula) it is associated Peninsulas; and Western with coastal shrubbery in Australia - Eremaean: south- loamy soils amongst granitic eastern Eucla, southern rocks. Coolgardie, South-West: Eyre, Roe, south-eastern Darling, The smaller leafed individuals southern Avon. are often difficult to distinguish from the larger At Cape Cassini (Kangaroo leafed specimens of ssp. Island), this subspecies microphylla in the Arno Bay, occurs on limestone cliffs in Hincks National Park, Kimba, shallow skeletal soils. and Bascornbe Well regions of Between Kimba and Whyalla it Eyre Peninsula (South occurs in dominated Australia). grasslands. This subspecies is characterized by the small, usually ovate leaves which are recurved to reflexed. The mm long; style 11-14 mm long. calyx is consistently densely hairy in all Victorian This species is endemic to populations and sparsely to South Australia - western densely hairy in those coastal and southern Eyre populations east of Murray Peninsula: West Coast, Bridge (with few exceptions), Central Mallee and Dunes Kangaroo Island (except at (Ceduna). Cape Cassini), and central and northern Yorke Peninsula. Populations on northern Eyre This species is possibly Peninsula mostly have a hairy conservationally at risk, It calyx, whereas those further occurs on calcarenite ridges South are more variable, such and in sandy loams of that the calyx is frequently undulating calcreted plains in glabrous. The populations in Mallee communities. Commonly Western Australia are similar associated with Eucalyptus to those of Eyre Peninsula. incrassata, E. oleosa, E. socialis, and frequently with Melaleuca, Pittosporum, 3. Prostanthera calycina F. v, Santalum acuminatum, and Muell. ex Benth. various shrubs (such as Grevill ea, Hakea and Small + prostrate shrubs, c. Spyridium) . 0.5 m high, moderately to densely hairy, hairs stiff and This species has a very straight (for most of length), distinctive hair type which is appressed. Leaves arranged not found in any other taxon along the axis and branches, of section Klanderia. The not clustered on short shoots; hairs are appressed, straight petiole 0.8-1.4 mm long; for most of their length, lamina elliptic to ovate- stiff, and directed towards oblong, 4-14 x 3-5 mm; base the distal part of the organ obtuse to subattenuate; margin on which they occur. The entire; apex obtuse to relatively large calyx is a rounded. Pedicel 2.5-4.5 (-7) useful secondary feature which mm 1-ong,often maroon, densely distinguishes this species hairy. Calyx 8-14 mm long, from P, serpyllifolia ssp. usually maroon, sometimes microphylla. green; outer surface sparsely to moderately hairy, particularly along veins; tube 4. Prostanthera aspalathoides 6-8 mm long. Corolla 17.5-22 A. Cunn. ex Benth. mm long, red; outer surface distally sparsely to Small shrub, 0.3-1 m high. moderately hairy; tube 13-15 Leaf bearing branches short to mm long. Stamens with long,when short, leaves often filaments c. 5.5 mm long; densely clustered at nodes of anthers 1.5-2 mm long; axis, when long, branches 2-4 connective extended to form a mm long, then leaves spread short basal appendage (0.1-) out along branches. Leaves 0.4-0.8 mm long. Pistil 12-15 glabrous or sparsely tomentose; petiole absent or Melal euca lanceolata, M. less than 0.5 mm long; lamina uncinata, Triodia sp. and terete to compressed-terete, other heathland plants, oblong-1 inear, linear-elliptic occasionally with Callitris to linear-obovate, (1.5-) 2-6 preissii, frequently in (-10) x 0.5-1 mm; base roadside communities. It slightly attenuate; margin occurs on sandstone and entire, recurved when lamina shales, amongst sandstone subterete; apex obtuse to outcrops, on red sandy loams, rounded. Pedicel 2-3 mm long. overlying granite or in Calyx 5-7 mm long; outer shallow, calcareous soils. surface sparsely to densely Often in sandy soils with high hairy, rarely glabrous; tube 'buckshot' gravel content, 3-4 mm long. Corolla 10-20 mm less commonly occurring in long, red, pink-red, orange, soils with high clay content. rarely yellow; inner surface usually with dark red spot on There is considerable lower lips; tube 8-11 mm long; variation in the size of the lobes sparsely hairy on outer leaves of P. aspalathoides. surface. Stamens with In the Waikerie and Billiatt filaments 6-8 mrn long; anthers National Park areas of South 1.5--2mm long, although Aust.ral i a., the leaves are appendage appearing absent, one slightly flattened narrow- side of connective usually elliptic, similar to P. extended to form a minute basal serpyllifolia ssp. appendage up to 0.3 (-0.5) mm serpyllifolia. However, P. long. Pistil 17-18 (-25) mm aspalathoides usually has the long; style 15-20 (-23) mm leaves crowded on short long. shoots, whereas those of P. serpyllifolia are arranged This species occurs in along the long axes. Queensland (Maranoa); New South Wales (Central Western This species is closely Slopes, South Western Plains, related to P. florifera. The South Far Western Plains); differences are summarized Victoria (Mallee, Northern under the latter species (see Plains) and South Australia below). (Murray Mallee, Mt Lofty Block - (incl. Kangaroo Islands), Gulf Plains - [Yorke 5. Prostanthera florifera Conn Peninsula], Northern Myall Plains and Central Mallee and Small shrub, 0.3-1 m high. Dunes - [Eyre Peninsula]. Leaves very sparsely hairy, at least some leaves clustered on This species is not considered short branches; petiole to be conservationally at absent; lamina linear-obovate risk. to narrowly oblong, 4-10 x 0.6-1 mm, + flat, thick; base It occurs in open Mallee attenuate; margin entire; apex communities (Eucalyptus obtuse to rounded. Pedicel 3- incrassata, E. socialis) with 4 mm long. Calyx 7-12 mm open understorey commonly of long, glabrous; tube 5-7 mm long. Corolla 20-26 mm long; 5-7 mm cf. 3-4 mml), and outer surface of tube pink- longer corolla (20-26 mm cf. red; inner surface pale pink 5-7 mm [longer corolla tube: with tinge of white or with 12-15 mm cf. 8-11 mm]). pink-red blotches; inner surface of lobes white with dark brown blotches or 6. Prostanthera nudula J.M. sometimes yellow-brown with Black ex E. Robertson pink spots; tube 12-15 mm long. Stamens with filaments Scrambling shrub, 0.5-2 m 8-10 mm long; anthers 1.5-2 mm high, ends of branches long; one side of connective becoming rigid and spinescent. basally extended to form a Leaves glabrous; petiole 0.3- long slender appendage 1-2.5 0.8 mm long; lamina narrowly mm long. Pistil 25-28 mm elliptic, 3.9-10.5 x 1.3-2.2 long; style c. 25 mm long. mm; base obtuse to subattenuate; margin entire; This species is endemic to apex obtuse. Pedicel 0.3-0.8 South Australia - Western mm long. Calyx 5.5-8 mm long, Pastoral (Gawler and Uno glabrous; tube 5-7 mm long. Ranges). It is presently not Corolla 8-11 mm long; a pale endangered. cream-colour, base white; inner surface with yellow dots It occurs on rocky precambrian and main veins of tube purple; porphyric rhyodacite-derived tube 4.7-5 mm long. Stamens soils with scattered shrubs of with filaments 2.3-3.3 mm sowdenii, A. montana, long; anthers 1-1.3 mm long; Eremophila interstans, connective basally extended to Melaleuca uncinata, spinifex form a slender appendage 1.5- ( Triodia), Isopogon, Cal ytrix 1.6 mm long. Pistil c. 8 mm and ephemerals, especially on long; style c. 5.5-6 mm long. hills in rocky places towards ridge tops. Usually occurring This species is endemic to the at higher altitudes than Everard Ranges of South Dodonaea viscosa. Soils silty. Australia. Since this species has a very restricted This species is closely distribution, it is likely to related to P. aspalathoides. be vulnerable. Prostanthera florifera is most readily distinguished from the It occurs amongst granite latter species by having outcrops, usually near longer anther appendages [l- watercourses, 2.5 mm long cf. up to 0.3 (- 0.5 ) mm in P. aspalathoides] . Prostanthera nudula is readily Several other characters are identified by presence of larger and/or longer in P. spines that are formed by the florifera than P. branches becoming rigid and aspala thoides. For example, spinescent. The only other P. florifera tends to have species with spines is P. - longer pedicels (3-4 mm cf, 2- spinosa. Kowever, P. nudula 3 mm), longer calyces (7-12 mm has very unequal calyx lobes cf. 5-7 mm [longer calyx tube: (cf. + equal in P. spinosa), it is glabrous except for a not considered to be few hairs at the distal nodes endangered. (cf. usually hairy in P. spinosa) and the branches are It commonly occurs in rocky 2 at right angles to the stem areas and watercourses in and usually distantly spaced association with mallee, (cf. + erect and crowded in P. Eucalyptus camaldulensis, E. spinosa) . baxteri, E. leucoxylon, Allocasuarina verticillata and Callitris rhomboidea 7. F.v. communities. Soils are Muell. usually sandy to sandy loams, overlying sandstone or Small erect shrub, sometimes limestone. scrambling, to 0.5(-2) m high; branches sparsely to densely The distribution of this hairy or glabrous except for a species is fragmented into few hairs at the nodes, ends more or less isolated of branches becoming rigid and populations that have attained spinescent. Leaves densely considerable homogeneity and, hairy or with scattered hairs; in several instances, petiolc 0.4-1 mnr long; 7amina represent recognizable local narrowly ovate to broadly variants. elliptic, 1.5-6 x 1-4 mm; base acute to subobtuse; margin 8. Prostanthera sp. C entire ; apex obtuse. Pedicel 1.5-8(-15) mm long. Calyx Erect shrub, 1-1.5(-4) m high; 3.5-6 mm long, outer surface branches moderately to densely densely hairy or with hairy, appearing silver-green, scattered hairs; tube 2-3 mm sparsely glandular or glands long. Corolla 8-14 mm long; absent. Leaves with petiole pale-mauve, very pale lilac to absent; lamina terete or with almost white; inner surface a faint groove along the usually with orange to orange- adaxial (upper) surface, 10-53 brown lines or dots; tube 4-10 x 0.4-3.4 mm; base attenuate; mm long. Stamens with margin entire; apex attenuate. filaments 1.7-4 mm long; Pedicel 1.5-3.7 mm long. anthers 0.8-1.6 mm long; Calyx cream-coloured, 3.8-9 mm connective basally extended to long, outer surface sparsely form an appendage 0.7-2.1 mm to densely hairy; tube 1.7-3.5 long. Pistil 6-8 mm long; mm long. Corolla 7-10 mm style c. 5-6.5 mm long. long; white with mauve or purple streaks on the inner This species occurs in distal part of tube and the scattered populations in South inner lower surface of mouth. Australia - Murray Mallee, Mt Stamens with filaments 2.2-4 Lofty Block (Kangaroo Island), mm long; anthers 0.6-1.5 mm Southern Highlands and Plains long; connective basally (Eyre Peninsula) and Flinders extended to form an appendage Ranges; Victoria - South West 0.4-1 mm long. Pistil 5-8 mm and New South Wales - North long; style 4.5-7 mm long. Coast (near Coaldale). It is This species occurs in the inner lower surface of mouth. Northern Arid (western Stamens with filaments 2.2-4 Sandplains) province of South mm long; anthers 0.6-1.5 mm Australia, the Central South long; connective basally region of the Northern extended to form an appendage Territory, and the Eremaean 0.4-1 mm long. Pistil 5-8 mm botanical province of Western long; style 4.5-7 mm long. Australia. This species is endemic to the It occurs in open Eucalyptus Murray Mallee and Mt Lofty gongylocarpa woodland between Block provinces of South sand dunes, on the slopes of Australia. It is only known granitic hills with Grevillea, from a few scattered Eremophila, Acacia and Triodia localities and only a few species in skeletal soils, or plants are known in each area. in red sands overlying red The Black Hill Native Flora sandstone with Cassia Research Unit of the South artemisioides. Australian National Parks and Wildlife Service have In South Australia, Western developed a technique for Australia and parts of the tissue culture of this species Northern Territory, the leaves and they plan to reintroduce of this species are terete or propagated plants to selected have only a faint groove along localities to supplement their adaxial surface. An remnant populations. incurved leaf variant occurs in the Northern Territory. It occurs amongst rocky This species is not thought to granite outcrops and amongst be endangered, Eucalyptus - Mallee Woodlands on sandy loam soils with granite outcrops. 9. F,v. Muell. The small leaves are unusual for species of section Erect shrub, 1-1.5(-4) m high; Prostanthera. They are branches moderately to densely reminiscent of those of P. hairy, appearing silver-green, serpyllifolia ssp. sparsely glandular or glands microphylla. absent. Leaves with petiole absent; lamina terete or with a faint groove along the 10. Prostanthera striatiflora adaxial (upper) surface, 10-53 F.v. Muell. x 0.4-3.4 mm; base attenuate; margin entire; apex attenuate. Erect shrub, 0.2-2 m high; Pedicel 1.5-3.7 mm long. branches very sparsely to Calyx cream-coloured, 3.8-9 mm sparsely hairy or glabrous, long, outer surface sparsely very sparsely to sparsely to densely hairy; tube 1.7-3.5 glandular. Leaves with mm long. Corolla 7-10 mm petiole absent or to c. 1 mm long; white with mauve or long; lamina narrowly ovate to purple streaks on the inner narrowly elliptic, (4-)8-30(- distal part of tube and the 38) x 1.5-10 mm; base acute to subattenuate; margin entire; apex acute to obtuse. Pedicel 11. Prostanthera behriana 1.3-2.3 mm long. Calyx light Schldl. green, usually with a faint purple tinge above, glabrous, Erect to straggling shrub, 1- glands absent, 7-10 mm long; 2.5 m high; branches densely tube 2.5-3.4 mm long. Corolla hairy, sometimes hairs 10-17 mm long, white, inner restricted to base of leaf and and lateral surfaces of the midrib of adaxial surface, tube with purple streaks, glands absent. Leaves light inner surface of tube white green, sparsely to densely with dull-orange to yellow hairy, sometimes sparsely dots or yellow-orange lines hairy, often glabrous often present also. Stamens abaxially; petiole absent; with filaments 3-5.2 mm long; lamina obovate to narrowly anthers 1-1.3 mm long; ovate, (9.4-)14-26(-32) x 2-6 connective basally extended to mm; base attenuate to acute; form an appendage 2.3-2.9 mm margin entire; apex subacute. long. Pistil 10.7-13 mm long; Pedicel 0.5-1 mm long. Calyx style 10-11 mm long. 2 green, 4.5-6 mm long, outer surface moderately to densely This widespread species occurs hairy; tubc 2-3 mm long. in New South Wales, the Corolla 15-20 mm long, white, Northern Territory, South pale blue, pale violet, Australia and western' purple-white with purple Australia. streaks in the throat, or more commonly with brown-red dots It commonly occurs in skeletal in the throat and mouth of the soils of rocky areas (either abaxial surface. Stamens with on hill slopes, in crevices of filaments 3-5 mm long; anthers steep rock faces or frequently 1-1.5 mm long; connective along drainage lines and in basally extended to form an creek beds). It usually appendage c. 1 mm long. occurs in Open Woodland Pistil c. 9 mm long; style c. communities associated with 7 mm long. various species of Acacia (e.g. A. aneura, A. montana, This species is endemic to A. sowdenii, A. tarculensis, South Australia, occurring A. victoriae), Callitris spp., from the lower Flinders Cassia spp., Eremophila spp., Ranges, throughout the Lofty and other shrubs. Ranges to the south of Keith and the South East. This species is characterized by having a white corolla that It is commonly associated with has purple streaks on its Astroloma conostephioides, inner surface (similar to P. Baeckea, Brachyscome, Correa, sp. C), a relatively long Hibbertia, Leptospermum and anther appendage, very Styphelia dominated Heathlands sparsely hairy branches and in sandy soils, podsolized leaves that usually appear to sands and gravel. be glabrous. This species has it closest affinities with P. sp. A. (see Australia. It is not the latter species for a considered to be endangered. discussion of the distinguishing features). It occurs in Spinifex sandplain communities, in the interdunal area in red sands 12. Prostanthera wilkeana F.v. with Acacia coriacea, A. Muell. ligulata, A. salicina, Eremophila platythamnos, Erect densely branched shrub, Eucalyptus gongyl ocarpa and 0.3-1.2 m high; branches Triodia basedowii . densely hairy, appearing silvery, silver-green or grey- This species has close green; hairs curled to almost affinities with P. sp. A. The straight, subappressed to leaves are basally attenuate almost patent, antrorse to in P. wilkieana but often retrorse, hence indumentum obtuse in P. sp. A. The appearing scruffy, glands bracteoles tend to be smaller absent. Leaves as for (cf. 1.1-4.6 mm long cf. 3.8- branches, densely hairy; 8.1 mm long in P. sp. A. The petiole absent; lamina indumentum of this species is elliptic, obovate to narrowly made up of hairs that vary elliptic, narrowly obovate or from subappressed to almost t narrowly oblong, (2.8-)4- patent, antrorse to retrorse, lo(-16) x 1.3-4.6 mm; base such that the indumentum attenuate; margin entire; apex appears scruffy. In P. sp. A. obtuse, sometimes rounded. the indumentum is made up of' Pedicel 1.1-3.3 mm long. antrorse hairs that are mainly Calyx silver-green, 5-10.8 mm appressed. long, outer surface densely hairy; tube 2.6-4.3 mm long. Corolla 7.5-17 mm long; mauve 13. Prostanthera sp. A to pale violet or white, with deep-purple streaks in the Erect to spreading shrub, 0.6- throat and a few dull-yellow 1.7 m high; branches densely to yellow-brown spots on the hairy, appearing silver-green; inner surface of the abaxial hairs straight to curled, median lobe. Stamens with subpatent to appressed, fi-laments 2-3.3 mm long; antrorse. Leaves as for anthers 0.9-2.2 mm long; branches, densely hairy; connective basally extended to petiole absent ; lamina ovate form an appendage (0.2-)0.4- to narrowly elliptic, 7.2-13.3 1.3 mm long. Pistil 2.2-5 mm x 2.5-5.5 mm; base obtuse; long; style 2.5-6 mm long. margin entire; apex obtuse to subacute. Pedicel 1-2.1 mm This species occurs in long. Calyx green with purple the Central South region of to mauve tinge, 4.7-11 mm the Northern Territory, the long, outer surface moderately Northern Arid (Western to densely hairy; tube 2.4-3.9 Sandplains) of South mm long. Corolla 13-15 mm Australia, and the Eremaean long; basally white, distally Botanical Province of Western purple to mauve (sometimes predominately pink or blue), hairy, glands absent; petiole with yellow spots on the inner absent or to 0.4 mm long; surface of the throat and the lamina narrowly obovate to base of the abaxial median linear, (14.8-)17-36(-43) x lobe. Stamens with filaments 0.4-2.2(-2.5) mm; base 2.5-4 mm long; anthers 0.8-1.1 attenuate; margin entire; apex mm long; connective basally obtuse,. rarely subrounded. extended to form an appendage Pedicel 0.9-3.3 mm long. 0.6-1.6 mm long. Pistil 8-8.7 Calyx green, (3.9-)5.2-8.4 mm mm long; style 7.2-7.6 mm long, outer surface sparsely long. to densely hairy; tube 1.8-3 mm long. Corolla 6.5-12 mm This species is endemic to the long, white to cream-coloured Gawler Ranges and the Eyre with mauve or purple (to pink) Peninsula of South Australia. streaks on the inner surface The conservation status of of the tube and/or mouth and this species in not known, but base of the lobes, inner it has been recorded as surface of the abaxial median uncommon or rare. lobe often with 2 yellow spots. Stamens with It occurs on sand dunes in filaments 2.4-4 mm long; white sandy soil and in white anthers 0.7-1.5 mm long; sandy loam on rocky hills. connective basally extended to Little is known about the form an appendage 0.3-1 mm habitat of this specTes, but long. Pistil 5-8 mm long; it has been recorded as style 5-7 mm long. occurring with Eucalyptus species. This species occurs in the This species has its closest Central South region of the affinities with P. behriana. Northern Territory, and the It differs from P. behriana by Northern Arid and Western having a smaller corolla (13- Pastoral regions of South 15 mm long cf. 15-20 for Australia. P. behriana), an enlarged membranous fruiting calyx (the It occurs in sandy soils, on fruiting calyx remains + sand plains, sand dunes or in unchanged in P. behriana) , and interdunal areas, or well- the hairs of the branches are drained granitic loamy sands longer (0.5-0.7 mm long cf. of stony hills, with Acacia 0.3-0.4 mm long for P. aneura, A. quadrimarginea, behriana 1. Aristida browniana, Eragrostis eriopoda, Eremophila spp., Triodia sp. and Thryptomene 14. Prostanthera sp. B maisoneuvii . Erect shrub, 1-3 m high; branches densely hairy, appearing a silvery grey- green; hairs straight, appressed, antrorse. Leaves as for branches, densely -nowcring branch and cal?.a. A. ~~~~~~~~~~ru c'hlr~ro~l~hu;B. P. cur~hiorda:C. 1'. I1orrti.r~: D. 1). ,~rr~lrrllr: 1'. srrp~/!!/o/lusubsp. III~~~~oP~I!'~~~:F. 5pIffelSo: G. 1). ~rrlo~,/loro:14, 1'. bn~/krcu~?u: The Genus Prostanthera in the Gully, Wisemans Ferry, New Sydney Region South Wales.

Juvenile Plant : Prostanthera ovalifolia Leaves with lamina 28-33 mm long, 13-15 mm wide [length to Robert Miller width ratio c. 21; margin Picnic Point, NSW sparsely toothed (with teeth 1-2 mm long), grading to entire in the adult phase. This is the second part of an article that first appeared Adolescent Plant (a very young in the Prostanthera & plant with only a few flowers Westringia Study Group present - first flowers): Newsletter No. 10. Leaves with lamina c. 11 mm The rltlrrle Pros tan thera long, 25-30 mm wide [length to ovalifolia is currently used to width ratio 2.2-2.71. cover several different types of plants. The taxonomic Adult Plant: structure of this species complex has not been worked Branches 2 terete basally, out, but there appears to be with young branches 2 several quite distinct quadrangular, channelled variants that may deserve to decussately with ridges be recognized at the specific pubescent, with a thick band level. Since the type of hairs at the internode; specimen of this species is young branches densely not held in Australia glandular. Leaves with (probably being held by the petiole subterete, 3-4 mm British Museum in London), we long, concave, densely do not know what plant the pubescent laterally, almost name actually refers to. glabrous medial1 y; 1 amina Descriptions of two variants narrowly ovate, 22-29 mm long, (one that occurs along the 7-8 mm wide [length to width Hawkesbury River and one that ratio 3.1-4.11; discolorous; occurs in the Wattagan State abaxial (lower) surface Forest, both in New South glabrous, punctate, glandular Wales) are presented in this with gland sub-sessile and article. hemispherical, with mid-vein raised, moderately pubescent Prostanthera ovalifolia (denser towards the base), "Hawkesbury River" variant glabrous distally, secondary venation faint ; hairs The description is based antrorse; adaxial (upper) on a cultivated plant that was surface dark green, mid-vein collected from Laughtondale slightly sunken; margin entire; apex obtuse. filaments c. 1.5 mm long; Anthocyanin levels in the anthers 1.5 mm long; lobes leaves seem to increase when with a minute acumen up to the plant is in flower causing 0.05 mm long; one side of the many plants to have a connective basally extended to purplish-green coloration - form an appendage c. 0.4 mm the intensity varies long, appendage with narrowly throughout the population. triangular trichomes distally Inflorescence compact, short, (trichomes c. 0.05 mm long). bracteose, blastotelic, 0.5 mm long, 0.8 mm wide racemiform, 2.5-3.5 cm long, at base; style 6.5-7.5 mm 3-4 mm between individual long; lobes 0.1-0.2 mm flowers; + ovate with long. a tapering apex, striate, margin crenate distally, outer Distribution: surface pubescent. Pedicel 0.7-1.5 mm long, maroon, This variant appears to densely pubescent, glandular. be confined to the mid- Bracteoles narrowly elliptic, Hawkesbury River environs shorter than the calyx, 2.2 mm including some tributaries. long, 0.5 mm wide [length to Selected localities include: width ratio 4-41,maroon, roadside c. 2 km from Mangrove densely pubescent, glandular. Creek Dam, Jolls Bridge Calyx 5.4-6 mm long, purple extending c. 2 km north along throughout in bud or green the freeway, Dharug National with purplish tinge, darkening Park Camping site, to deep purple in fruit; tube Laughtondale Gully east of 1.8 mm long, 3-3.6 mm wide at Wisemans Ferry, escarpment mouth; lobes entire; upper above Wisemans Ferry, Maroota lobe 3 mm long, 5.1 mm wide; Ridge Road - steep descent lower lobe 3.6 mm long, 3.6 mm before Wisemans Ferry, and wide, tapering to an obtuse or Clifton Gardens areas south- retuse apex; outer surface west of Wisemans Ferry.. densely glandular, sparsely hairy; inner surface t Conservation Status: glabrous. Corolla purple or occasionally white, 10-11 mm Althuugl~ Lhis variant is long, 12-15 mm wide; tube 5 mm restricted in distribution and long, glabrous ; abaxial median the populations are localized, lobe glabrous, 5-6 mm long, 5-6 it is not considered to be mm wide, fimbriate with hairs vulnerable; its' probable c. 3 mnl long, apex retuse; range includes two National lateral lobes initially Parks and a Nature Reserve. directed forward, eventually becoming reflexed, sparsely Ecology: pubescent, triangular, 4-6 mm long, 4-5 .mm wide at base; Commonly found growing on adaxial median lobe-pair skeletal soils derived from reflexed, sparsely pubescent, sandstone, either on steep c. 3 mm long, 'c. 4 mm wide. sided ridges with exposed rock Stamens inserted c. 0.4 mm surfaces or in shallow gullies above base of corolla; of upper tributaries. One population occurs in alluvial petiole subterete, c. 12 mm deposits at Dharug Camping long, concave, densely area. pubescent; lamina slightly oblique, 35-40 mm long, c. 16 Common associated species mm wide [length to width ratio include Acacia linifol ia, 2.1-2.51, discolorous; Angophora bakeri, Dodonaea abaxial. surface glabrous, pinnata, Eriostemon glandular; mid vein raised, hispidulus, Eucalyptus eximia, secondary venation distinct; E. punctata, Hakea adaxial surface dark green; dactyloides, Kunzea ambigua, mid vein and secondary veins Lomandra 1ongi fol ia, Pul tenaea sunken; margin entire; apex ferruginea subsp. deanii and obtuse. Inflorescence P. flexilis. axillary basally, bracteose blastotelic racemiform Notes: distally, up to 20 mm long, up to 10 pairs of flowers, This variant is distinct distance between flowers at from the rest of the least 4 mm. Pedicels c. 7 mm Prostanthera ovalifolia complex long, sparsely pubescent. by the apparent absence or low Bracteoles linear, 2 mm long, amounts of volatile oils, the pubescent; hairs straight, distinctive bracts, and the white, 0.19-0.24 mm long. coloration of calyces, Calyx c. 5-6 mm long, green- prophylls and often foliage and purple; tube 1-1.5 mm long, branches during flowering. c. 2 mm wide at mouth, glabrous; adaxial (lower) Common names and cultivars lobe 4-5 mm long, 3 mm wide at base, 3.5 mm at widest point, The likely origin of the apex retuse; abaxial (upper) cultivar "Violet Beauty'' is lobe 3 mm long, 4 mm wide, this taxon. It differs from margin recurved, apex the typical variant in the elongated; outer surface intensity of leaf and calyx pubescent with hairs antrorse coloration that is deeper than and c 0.1 mm long, densely the normal colour range during glandular; inner surface flowering. Furthermore, the glabrous. Corolla purple, distal (or apical) part of the occasionally pink or white, 8- bracts are more constricted 10 mm long. c. 10 mm wide; than those found in the tube 2-3 mm long, 4-5 mm wide typical variants. at mouth, glabrous; abaxial median lobe 4-5 mm long, 3 mm wide at base, 4 mm at widest Prostanthera oval if01 ia point, fimbriate; lateral "Wattagan State Forest" variant lobes initially directed forward, becoming reflexed, Shrub 2-3 m high. sparsely pubescent, broadly Branches 2 terete basally, with triangular, 3 mm long, 4 mm young branches + quadrangular, wide at base; adaxial median channelled decussately with lobe-pair 2 mm long, 2 mm wide ridges pubescent. Leaves with at base, 3 mm at widest point, a distinctive, pleasant aroma; pubescent. Stamens inserted c 0.8 mm from base of tube; Walkers Ridge Road and at filaments 1.5 mm long; Upper Cedar Creek it occurs in anthers 1 mm long, lobes with a mixture of wet and dry a minute acumen to 0.01 mm sclerophyllous and rainforest long; one side of connective species. basally extended to form an appendage c. 0.24 mm long, with narrow triangular trichomes 0.05 mm long. Prostanthera cine01 ifera

Notes: Based on description in Proc. ROY. SOC. N.S.W., vol. 46, p. This variant differs from the 105 (1912). "Hawkesbury River" variant by the apparent presence of high A leafy shrub, several levels of volatile oils, feet high; stem and branches giving the plant a hoary pubescent. Leaves distinctively pleasant aroma, glabrous; narrowly ovate, reminiscent of P. cineolifera. mostly c. 1 inch long (-2 The taxon varies from P. inches); abaxial surface pale cineolifera in the length of and punctate; adaxial surface the 'racemes' that are very dark green; margin entire. similar in appearance to those Flowers in terminal 'racemes' of the "Hawkesbury River" c, 2 inches long, distant, variant, i.e. short, opposite on slender pedicels; distinctively bracteose and pedicels longer than the compact. Whereas plant calyx; bracteoles minute, material cultivated at inserted some distance from Burrendong Arboretum (under P. the calyx. Calyx 0.3-0.4 mm cineolifera) has 'racemes' long, glabrous; tube striate; that are twice the length and abaxial lobe longer than have small linear prophylls. adaxial lobe. Corolla twice The question arises, Is this as long as calyx, with inner variant a hybrid population surface slightly pubescent, between two distinct species otherwise glabrous; lobes that are speciating or are they acuminate ; abaxial median geographic or clinal lobe twice as long as the representative of the one lateral lobes, with margin taxon. slightly crenate and apex lobed; adaxial median pair- Distribution: lobe rather shorter and smaller than the lateral and Collected only at Walkers abaxial median lobes. Anthers Ridge Road, Wattagan State without an appendage or Forest in the Sydney region. A appendage minute. very similar variant occurs at Upper Cedar Creek.

Ecology: It occurs with wet sclerophyllous species at observed and cultivated plants identified as P, incisa from Mt Boss, west of Port Macquarie, the Wattagan State Forest, and Mooney Mooney Creek. There is a trend from broad ovate to narrow ovate, closely resembling P. sieberi at Mooney Mooney (branching habit consistent throughout populations north of Port Jackson, i.e. very angular). The calyx identification feature of lower lobes narrower and longer than the upper lip is indeterminate - the lobes most often appear to be equal. Slight variation can occur on each plant and within the population, I am cultivating plant material Lht originatcd from Mt Kembla (south of Port Jackson) that has the lower calyx lobes longer than the upper. However, Brian states in his article that the identification feature of width and length of the lower Young Inflorescence and leaves calyx lobe makes all the of Prostanthera cine01 ifera. plants from these locations P sieberi. Plants from ALL locations have a very similar aroma, only branching habits Prostanthera sieberi are consistently different from populations north and Specimens held at the south of Port Jackson. Maiden National Herbarium of New and Betche referred to P. South Wales (NSW) match the sieberi as P. incisa var. species growing south of Port sieberi. Is varietal status Hacking (Royal National Park), more appropriate? P. sieberi Illawarra escarpment-Mt Kiera- sensu lato (in the broad Mt Kembla-Macquarie Pass sense) is always found in areas. Confusion has arisen sheltered locations and often with the identity of the taxon is associated with rainforest growing north of Port Jackson verge species or wet (refer article by Brian Timmis sclerophyllous Eucalyptus in Newsletter no. 12, p. 10). forests on better soils. It is most often identified as P. incisa, however, Barry Conn reports that the type specimen is not held at NSW. I have "Kurrajong becoming reflexed, 2.5 mm monocline" variant long, 4 mm wide at base, margin sparsely fimbriate, Open shrub, 2-3 m high; apex obtuse; adaxial median branches subterete to 2 lobe-pair 1.5 mm long, 1.5 mm quadrangular on young branches; wide at base, 2 mm wide at young branches sparsely widest point, margin densely glandular, channelled fimbriate. Stamens inserted decussately. Leaves with a 0.4-0.5 mm from base of distinctive pleasant scent; corolla; filaments 2.7 mm petiole subterete, 8-12 mm long; anthers 1.5 mm long, 1 long, pubescent; lamina mm wide, lobes with a minute variable in shape, 12-18 mm acumen, one side of the long, 9-14 mm wide [length to connective basally extended to width ratio 1.2-2.41; abaxial form an appendage 0.3 mm long, surface pale green, glabrous, appendage with narrow punctate densely glandular, triangular trichomes distally midvein slightly raised and (trichomes to 0.2 mm long). sparsely pubescent basally Ovary 1 mm high, 0.7-1 mm (glabrous distally); adaxial wide; style 9.5 mm long. surface green, slightly concave, sparsely pubescent basally, glandular. Inflorescence 4-6 cm long, 8- Prostanthera incisa var. 10-flowered, up to 12 mm pubescens F.v. Muell. ex between consecutive flowers. Benth. Pedicels 2.5-3 mm long, terete, greenish purple, This variety is glabrous. Bracteoles 2 incorrectly recorded for the spathulate, 1 mm long Sydney Region. The type of glabrous, deciduous. Calyx 5 this variety was collected by mm long; tube 2 mm long, 2- Ferdinand von Mueller on the 2.5 mm wide at mouth; abaxial South Soast of New South Wales lobe 3 mm long, 2.7 mm wide at (B. Conn pers . comm. ) . The base, green with margin 5 Sydney taxon incorrectly purple and entire, glabrous, referred to this name is a apes obtuse; ndnvial lobe 1.5 distinct species which appear.s mm long, 3.5-4 mrn wide, to be confined to the Gosford purple-green, striate, area. glabrous, apex obtuse. It is a shrub, 1 m high, Corolla purple, 9.3 mm long, 1-1.5 m wide. The branching outer surface sparsely is angular. Branches and pubescent, inner surface leaves softly pubescent with sparsely pubescent at the base long hairs. Leaves flat and of the lateral lobes; tube 2 thin; margin toothed. mm long, 2.5 mm wide at mouth; This species is found in abaxial median lobes 4 mm sheltered areas and normally long, 3 mm wide at base, 4 mm is associated with rainforest wide at widest point, margin and rainforest verge flora fimbriate, apex slightly types of the area. retuse; lateral lobes ***** initially directed forward, Prostanthera ovalifolia "Hawkesbury River" variant Inflorescence and adult leaves

Prostanthera ovalifolia "Hawkesbury River" variant Adolescent leaves (left); Juvenile leaves (right)

Prostanthera ovalifolia "Wattagan" variant Inflorescence and leaves 1.' Prostanthera sieberi "Mt Kembla" variant Leaves

Prostanthera incisa "Kurrajong Monocline" variant Leaves and inflorescence

Prostanthera incisa Prostanthera incisa att tag an" variant "Mt Boss" variant Leaves and inflorescence Leaves _-*--- FIELD TRIPS

I knew the plant from cultivation and had seen it Prostanthera cryptandroides growing naturally at Capertee - in search of the Valley. It was Prostanthera Type locality cryptandroides. Without stopping, being burdened with a pack and Colin Gibson thinking first and foremost of Picnic Point, NSW getting the hill-climb over and done with, I reached down and collected a few sprigs and In May 1985, I visited the put them in my shirt pocket. little known sandstone ridges Prostanthera cryptandroides is of the upper Baerami Valley; a viscid plant and by the time Baerami Creek is a southern we had hauled ourselves up tributary of the Goulburn River onto "Rowan Smith Hill" the which in turn flows eastwards specimens had deteriorated. I to join the Hunter River. discarded them. My companion and I had Returning from the selected an interesting ridge "Mirrie Ridge" traverse, I to traverse. We called it gave an account to Robert "Mirrie Ridge'' after the local Miller and mentioned seeing parish. We began walking the Prostanthera. "That is beyond habitation and, late in interesting", he said. the afternoon, filled our " Prostanthera cryptandroides water-bottles in a gush of the hasn't been collected from its almost dry Baerami Creek. Then type locality in over one began our ascent of the steep hundred and fifty years!" He spur running from "Rowan Smith explained that the Hill" (our name) intending to botanist/explorer Alan camp on top. Cunningham had made the only Some distance up the spur collection from "the North- we met a low cliffline, so we West arm of the Hunter ~iver" contoured to the left towards a and since then it had only cleft gully, then angled right, become known from localities stepping up a series of near Glen Davis in the negotiable ledges. It was Capertee Valley. Ernie while I was so engaged that I Constable collected it there noticed a low Prostanthera in the 19601s,making it the growing along a scrubby ledge. only known locality where P. cryptandroides could be there we took our bearings and reliably found growing in the began following the spur down wild. We decided that we towards Baerami Creek; our would have to go back to eyes peeled for Prostanthera Baerami, relocate the plant cryptandroides. By now it and collect specimens. loomed in our minds like an It was not until July holy grail and in a couple of this year when we set aside places I had expected to see time for a visit to the the plant, but was Baerami Valley. After disappointed. overnighting in Denman we We came to the top of the drove into the valley at early cliff-line mentioned near the morning. With permission to beginning of this article, and camp on the property, at the turned towards the gully uppermost habitation, granted cleft. Time was running out, from farmer Rowan Smith, we the sun would soon be low in set off to follow Baerami the west. I was beginning to Creek upstream to the base of doubt. Had I confused the a ridge east of and parallel plant with the - or to the "Mirrie Ridge". even Coopernookia which also Our intention was to was common on the spur? traverse the ridge for a We dropped packs and couple of kilometres, descend began searching the ledges, into a creek that runs between splitting up to cover the more the two ridges, then climb ground. Hemigenia was over "Rowan Smith Hill" and everywhere. Robert was from there descend to Baerami searching on a lower line when Creek by way of the P. I looked across to a ledge cryptandroides site - the covered in thick scrub. I proviso being that my memory scrambled up and as I began of the site was still intact. working my way through the We spent much time scrub, I glanced down to see a looking closely at the diverse few mauve flowers of sclerophyllous flora and Prostanthera cryptandroides! collected many interesting T immedi.ately called out to specimens. Robert was eager Robert who on arrival verified to spot Labiates and wc hoped the identification. We that sooner rather than later, saluted the memory of Alan we might come upon Cunningham and congratulated Prostanthera cryptandroides. ourselves on making the first In the creek we had seen P. collection of the plant in its 1 inearis and P. prunelloides. type locality for one hundred We found that Hemigenia and sixty-three years. cuneifolia was quite common on Alan Cunningham made his the ridge. collection in April 1825, Our traverse proceeded to probably much closer to the expectations. We had no Goulburn River than the upper problem finding and following Baerami Creek. His collection the creek that divides the two notes also record that he ridges. Late ' in the collected it from the lower afternoon, we made the ascent slopes of Mt Dangar. It is of "Rowan Smith Hill". From likely that there are numerous other colonies in the Baerami sandstone maze. Next day, Robert and I Plant Collecting by torch light traversed the nearby Cresent or by feel! Hill Ridge and found a substantial colony of P. cryptandroi des. Robert Barry Conn surmised that the site of the previous day which consisted Royal Botanic Gardens of very few plants must have Sydney, NSW been colonized from the stronger population on the Crescent Hill Ridge, directly After reading the above opposite. article by Colin, it reminded On returning from the me of a few crazy things that Crescent Hill Ridge, we botanists do just to collect a followed the Baerami Long Arm plant. downstream for a distance and While collecting found in growing along the creek. Tasmania for a survey of the George Althofer mentions in volatile leaf oils (see the "Cradle of Incense" Newsletter 13, p.11) my finding P. discolor on the assistant (Judy Scott) and I Goulburn River, at Kerrabee, visited Mt Barrow. We had Cox's Gap and Murumbo. left Lake St Clair in the However, there are only Cradle Mountains early that specimens known from one morning, had collected from a locality, as held by the population of P. lasianthos on National Herbarium of New the Great Lakes road, to the South Wales. So this was a south of Deloraine, before significant extension of the arriving at Mt Barrow in the known range. We later found very late afternoon. By the P. discolor in the main branch time we located a population of Baerami Creek and so ran of P. lasianthos it was dusk. the course of an interesting Five plants are collected from journey . each population. This involves taking an herbarium voucher, about 200 grams of leaves for distillation, the collection of the a few leaves into 70% ethanol for later anatomical study, and finally the plant is given a number and labelled with a metal tag. The collection from the last tree was completed after dark! Normally, one would now look for a place to camp, but we were on a mountain, and everybody knows that mountains are made to be climbed! So we drove the rest of the way up a very narrow road to the car moving traffic in both park just below the summit. directions. This made it very After feeling and groping hard to find the exact our way to the summit, we locality. Furthermore, the admired the view over road is very difficult to get Launceston to the west. off and park safely. Finally, However, the strong, bitterly I found the area and parked cold winds soon drove us, the car off the road. I then gingerly down, over the exposed disappeared into the bush, boulders to the warmth of the without a torch (I did not car. have one) and ran until I got The road seemed to be to the immediate area where narrower on the way down, so I Robert Miller had shown me the drove far more carefully while plants. Because the plant is concentrating on the road. small with very open Out of the corner of my eye, branching, I was unable to see the car lights appeared to it in the dark (not surprising 'pick up' something which I suppose! ). So, I got down appeared familiar. At first, on my hands and knees and I had not planned to stop crawled around until I because it was probably some literally bumped into one. plant that I was not With the flowers a few particularly interested in. centimetres from my nose, I But, after travelling a couple verified that I had found the of hundred metres, it got the plant. After collecting a better of me, so I hesitantly piece for an herbarium backed up the bumpy road. voucher, I raced triumphantly When I got out, I had found back to the car. My family Westringia rubiaefolia. This were a little surprised to see is a beautiful plant that is me again so soon. However, quite common to the area, not they were more surprised to quite as important as Colin see that I had actually found Gibson's find! But, it was the plant! the first time that I had seen it growing in the wild. My field notes were rather brief as I could not really see very much - it was after 10.00 p.m.! On another occasion, I had wanted to visit a population of Prostanthera saxicola on the Menai road, near the Georges River (SW of Sydney). Unfortunately, my family and I had lingered a little too long at a very enjoyable barbeque with friends before I decided to visit these plants. By the time we got to the approximate locality it was very dark with a constant stream of rapidly gRe SPQNDENCE w,,*. . I I

Dear Brian, really enjoyed my visit, particularly the day trip We have had a tremendous collecting - Brian] season since the first drought relief rains uf lasL October - *t**s(: over two feet of rain during the first six months of the year. There should be good growth and an abundance of seedlings by spring. I will try and get out and obtain plant material of Prostanthera granitica at Wyaga, Prostanthera sp. nov, at Dunmore and P. ringens from the Carnarvon Mountains. Also Please find enclosed some Westringia cheelii from Tara. seeds of Westringia eremicola from plants on my block near Gatton. The plants originally David M. Gordon came from the Bush near "Myall Park", Glenmorgan, Qld Helidon some 20 km north west of Gatton, in sandstone P.S. This would have been an country. This is also the ideal year for your trip home of Prostanthera instead of the dreadful euphrasioides, although I have drought year! ***** never found any. Arthur Baker [Hope you can get some of Gatton, Qld those species for our living ***** collection. I am sorry that I picked the wrong year, but, I [We would like specimens of both species, with flowers, if it has been concentrated on possible and more seeds of the cuttings. I am not too sure Westringia, thanks. - Eds] how the prostantheras will do at Myrrhee which is a lot sunnier and drier than here, although P. lasianthos grows naturally only a little bit deeper into the hills. One I planted survived last summer's drought, the worst in living memory in our area, without any water in a gully which probably has underground water. I enjoyed the last I was disappointed to Newsletter - very informative lose "P. gilesii" here at again. One dilemma that I Kallista. It may have been have, is that my propagating drought plus a Kangaroo apple successes have been very low taking what water there was. over the last couple of years. I am pleased we should be here I am wondering if there is long enough to see the spring still a facility for display, the first good one exchanging or receiving rooted for this garden. Some of the cuttings in the Group? mints are already out, and I had a few odd out of season Roger Bagley flowers at the breaking of the Blaxland, NSW drought. The one that comes to mind was P. violacea. It was also suffering from the kangaroo apple which was [Until I get my propagating removed. The P. violacea had system established again, not really flowered in the probably next year, I am spring, but had a small batch unable to help with rooted in autumn. cuttings. Anyone who can help Roger with this one can Barbara N. Buchanan contact him direct at 37 Myrrhee, Victoria Powell Street, Blaxland, NSW 2774. - Brian]

We are in the process of moving from Kallista to Myrrhee. Antlcipation of the move has restricted my Sorry I am a bit late gardening activities, lately with my subscription. It has been the usual problem - the I will certainly call in at garden! I have finally the "Coach & Horses Inn" on my decided that "Poorinda" is not next trip. It sounds like a Prostanthera country. wonderful project. Best of luck to you both. Since my trip to New South Wales, I have once again Norm Richmond lost most of the Prostantheras "Poorinda", Bairnsdale in the main garden. Last Vic~oria Summer was a three and a half month drought, a three month plague of grass hoppers, a two month plague of 1 cm long weevil. Even the highly aromatic Prostantheras were stripped to bare stems and being under drought stress most did not recover. I have now planted a selection of plants on the south side of the house which is a cooler area and the soils is of greater depth. This area has greater access to water, as long as the dam does not dry out as it did last Summer.

The cuttings I brought from your collection did grow and I checked with Mrs Hodge to see if they were "Poorinda" I am a member of the plants. She did not recognize "Foothills Group" of SGAP in them but explained that on Victoria and I would like to several occasions the become a passive member of the nurserymen who were Prostanthera & Westringia propagating the "Poorinda" Study Group. Through the plants did become so greedy "Foothills Group" I have had that they took not only access to your Newsletter cuttings, but the parent plant which I find most fascinating, as well! "Poorinda Pixie" was and am always sorry to have to one such case. Mrs Hodge return them to the group never saw "Pixie" as a garden library. So the answer is plant. I think that the plant obvious - I need my own! similar to "Pixie" may be "Poorinda Leane". I expect For some years I had been flowers in about a month and growing and propagating the will check. "Pixie" is in following - P. ovalifolia, P. bloom and looks like being a rotundifolia (pink and mauve very nice bush. forms), P. lasianthos, P. denticulata, P. melissifolia I suppose you have moved and P. saxicola var. montana. into your new home by now and Then I bought a copy of the "Cradle of Incense" and I was hooked more than ever. Congratulations on the Recently, I had the good high quality of the fortune of procuring P. densa, Newsletter. I have been P. cryptandroides and P. growing prostantheras and 'Violet Beauty'. Could you westringias for a number of give me some information on years. I grew Prostanthera 'Violet Beauty' please? discolor in a 10 inch pot for 5 years. During this time it Valerie McConchie has flowers profusely. It was Emerald, Victoria kept in shape with regular tip pruning. It was then planted in the garden against a south facing fence and the back of a carport facing east. Except [Firstly, welcome to the Study in summer, when it gets a Group. You must be the most little dappled shade, it active 'passive' member ever! receives no sun. However, it With respect to 'Violet has continued to flower well Beauty', refer to Robert for the five years that it has Miller's article on been in the garden. It is Prostanthera ovalifolia about 1.8 metres high and 1 "Hawkesbury River" variant in metre wide. The soil is a this Newsletter. Does anyone fine silty sand and Viola know the actual origin of this hederacea provides a thick cultivar? We will try and ground cover. obtain some more information. Irrespective of its origin, it Bob Mylius is a lovely plant that has Carnegie, Victoria green leaves that turn purple during flowering. . . . Barry]