Prostanthera granitica
{{Short description|Species of flowering plant}}
{{Speciesbox
|name = Granite mintbush
|image = Prostanthera granitica.jpg
|image_caption = Near the Sandstone Caves in the Pilliga forest
|status_system =
|status =
|genus = Prostanthera
|species = granitica
|authority = Maiden & Betche{{cite web |title=Prostanthera granitica |url=https://biodiversity.org.au/nsl/services/apc-format/display/109850 |website=Australian Plant Census |access-date=1 September 2020}}
|range_map = Map.Prostanthera granitica.jpg
|range_map_caption = Occurrence data from AVH
}}
Prostanthera granitica, commonly known as the granite mintbush, is a species of flowering plant in the family Lamiaceae and is endemic to eastern Australia. It is a spreading shrub with egg-shaped leaves with the edges rolled under, and purple to violet flowers.
Description
Prostanthera granitica is a spreading shrub that typically grows to {{cvt|0.6–1|m}} high and {{cvt|2|m}} wide and has densely hairy branches. The leaves are light green, hairy, egg-shaped with the edges rolled under, {{cvt|6–15|mm}} long and {{cvt|2–5|mm}} wide and sessile or on a petiole up to {{cvt|1|mm}} long. The flowers are arranged singly in upper leaf axils with bracteoles about {{cvt|2|mm}} long at the base. The sepals are {{cvt|5|mm}} long and form a tube {{cvt|3|mm}} wide with two lobes, the upper lobe {{cvt|2|mm}} long. The petals are purple to mid-violet, occasionally white, {{cvt|8–10|mm}} long. Flowering occurs from August to December.{{cite web |last1=Conn |first1=Barry J. |title=Prostanthera granitica |url=https://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/NSWfl.pl?page=nswfl&lvl=sp&name=Prostanthera~granitica |publisher=Royal Botanic Garden Sydney |access-date=1 September 2020}}
Taxonomy
Prostanthera granitica was first formally described in 1905 by Joseph Maiden and Ernst Betche in the Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales.{{cite web |title=Prostanthera granitica |url=https://id.biodiversity.org.au/instance/apni/541473 |website=Australian Plant Name Index |access-date=1 September 2020}}{{cite journal |last1=Maiden |first1=Joseph |last2=Betche |first2=Ernst |title=Notes from the Botanic Gardens, Sydney No. 11 |journal=Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales |date=1905 |volume=30 |issue=3 |pages=369–370 |url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/30106#page/425/mode/1up |access-date=1 September 2020}}
Distribution and habitat
Granite mint bush grows in heath and forest in rocky places, mainly on the tablelands, slopes and plains of New South Wales.{{cite web |last1=Sheather |first1=Warren |last2=Sheather |first2=Gloria |title=Prostanthera granitica |url=https://austplants.com.au/Prostanthera-granitica |publisher=Australian Plants Society, N.S.W. |access-date=1 September 2020}}