Prostanthera decussata
{{short description|Species of plant}}
{{Speciesbox
| name = Dense mintbush
| image = Prost.decussata-atas-9.jpg
| image_caption =
| genus = Prostanthera
| species = decussata
| authority = F.Muell.{{cite web |title=Prostanthera decussata |url=https://biodiversity.org.au/nsl/services/apc-format/display/109646 |website=Australian Plant Census |access-date=28 August 2020}}
| range_map = Prostanthera decussataDistA26.png
| range_map_caption = Occurrence data from AVH
}}
Prostanthera decussata, commonly known as dense mintbush, species of flowering plant that is endemic south-eastern Australia. It is a dense, compact, strongly aromatic shrub with egg-shaped leaves and mauve to violet flowers with yellow streaks, arranged in leaf axils near the ends of branchlets.
Description
Prostanthera decussata is a dense, compact, strongly aromatic shrub that typically grows to a height of up to {{cvt|2|m}}. The leaves are egg-shaped, {{cvt|4–7|mm}} long, {{cvt|1–3.5|mm}} wide and sessile or on a petiole up to {{cvt|0.6|mm}} long. They are dark green on top and paler on the underside. The flowers are arranged in leaf axils near the ends of branchlets with bracteoles {{cvt|2.5–3|mm}} long at the base. The sepals are {{cvt|3.5–4|mm}} long forming a tube {{cvt|1–1.5|mm}} long with two lobes, the upper lobe {{cvt|2–2.5|mm}} long. The petals are mauve to violet, occasionally pinkish, {{cvt|6–8|mm}} long. Flowering occurs from October to March.{{cite web |last1=Conn |first1=Barry J. |title=Prostanthera decussata |url=https://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/NSWfl.pl?page=nswfl&lvl=sp&name=Prostanthera~decussata |publisher=Royal Botanic Garden Sydney |access-date=29 August 2020}}{{cite web |last1=Conn |first1=Barry J |title=Prostanthera decussata |url=https://vicflora.rbg.vic.gov.au/flora/taxon/16258907-e86b-4566-a64a-445ff8394449 |publisher=Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria |access-date=29 August 2020}}
Taxonomy and naming
This species was formally described in 1859 by Victorian Government Botanist Ferdinand von Mueller in Fragmenta phytographiae Australiae, based on plant material collected in mountainous country near the Macalister River in Victoria.{{cite web |title=Prostanthera decussata |url=https://id.biodiversity.org.au/instance/apni/541177 |website=Australian Plant Name Index |access-date=29 August 2020}}{{cite book |last1=von Mueller |first1=Ferdinand |title=Fragmenta phytographiae Australiae |date=1859 |publisher=Victorian Government Printer |location=Melbourne |pages=126–127 |url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/7218#page/133/mode/1up |access-date=29 August 2020}} The specific epithet (decussata) is from the Latin decussatus meaning "formed crosswise like the letter X".{{cite book|last1=Brown|first1=Roland Wilbur|title=The Composition of Scientific Words|date=1956|publisher=Smithsonian Institution Press|location=Washington, D.C.|page=239}}