Common Names: Mount Vincent Mint bush.
Taxonomy: Kingdom: Plantae; Angiosperms; Eudicots; Asterids; Lamiales; Lamiaceae; Prostanthera stricta. Other Species are: Prostanthera albiflora; Prostanthera albohirta; Prostanthera althoferi; Prostanthera ammophila; Prostanthera arenicola; Prostanthera askania – Tranquility Mint-bush; Prostanthera aspalathoides – Scarlet Mint-bush; Prostanthera baxteri; Prostanthera behriana; Prostanthera caerulea – Lilac Mint-bush; Prostanthera calycina – West Coast Mintbush; Prostanthera campbellii; Prostanthera canaliculata; Prostanthera carrickiana; Prostanthera centralis; Prostanthera chlorantha; Prostanthera cineolifera; Prostanthera clotteniana; Prostanthera collina; Prostanthera cruciflora; Prostanthera cryptandroides; Prostanthera cuneata – Alpine Mint-bush; Prostanthera decussata; Prostanthera densa; Prostanthera denticulata – Rough Mint-bush; Prostanthera discolor; Prostanthera eckersleyana; Prostanthera eriocalyx; Prostanthera eurybioides – Monarto Mint-bush; Prostanthera florifera; Prostanthera galbraithiae; Prostanthera granitica – Granite Mint-bush; Prostanthera grylloana; Prostanthera hindii; Prostanthera hirtula; Prostanthera howellae; Prostanthera incana -Velvet Mint-bush; Prostanthera incisa – Cut-leaved Mint-bush; Prostanthera incurvata; Prostanthera junonis’; Prostanthera lanceolata; Prostanthera laricoides; Prostanthera lasianthos – Victorian Christmas Bush; Prostanthera linearis – Narrow-leaved Mint-bush; Prostanthera lithospermoides; Prostanthera magnifica – Magnificent Mint-bush; Prostanthera marifolia; Prostanthera megacalyx; Prostanthera melissifolia – Balm Mint-bush; Prostanthera microphylla; Prostanthera monticola – Monkey Mint-bush, Buffalo Mint-bush; Prostanthera nanophylla; Prostanthera nivea – Snowy Mint-bush; Prostanthera nudula; Prostanthera ovalifolia – Mint Bush; Prostanthera palustris; Prostanthera parvifolia; Prostanthera patens; Prostanthera pattila; Prostanthera pedicellata; Prostanthera petrophila; Prostanthera phylicifolia – Spiked Mint-bush; Prostanthera porcata; Prostanthera prunelloides; Prostanthera rhombea -Sparkling Mint-bush; Prostanthera ringens – Gaping Mint-bush; Prostanthera rotundifolia – Round-leaf Mintbush; Prostanthera rugosa; Prostanthera saxicola;
Prostanthera scutata; Prostanthera scutellarioides; Prostanthera semiteres; Prostanthera sericea; Prostanthera serpyllifolia – Small-leaved Mint-bush; Prostanthera sieberi; Prostanthera spinosa – Spiny Mint-bush; Prostanthera splendens; Prostanthera staurophylla; Prostanthera stenophylla; Prostanthera striatiflora – Jockey’s Cap or Striped Mintbush; Prostanthera stricta – Mt Vincent Mint-Bush; Prostanthera suborbicularis; Prostanthera teretifolia – Turpentine Mint-bush; Prostanthera tysoniana; Prostanthera verticillaris; Prostanthera violacea – Violet Mint-bush; Prostanthera walteri – Blotchy Mint-bush; Prostanthera wilkieana.
Location/Environment: This plant is endemic to Australia. The species “stricta” is found in open forests often near the watercourases in the western Blue Mountains of New South Wales.
Description:
“Prostanthera” comes from the Greek word “prostheke” for meaning of a reference to an appendange or anthera. This is because the flowers have small spur-like appendages on their anthers. The Prostanthera Genus is commonly known as “mintbush” and belongs to the family Lamiaceae. The Genus has over 90 species. The “stricta” species is listed as “vulnerable” under the EPBC Act. It is an erect shrub that grows to a height of about 2 meters with branches almost as wide that are densely hairy. The shrub has oval shaped leaves that can range upwards of 12 mm in length and are also densely hairy and very aromatic. The shurb flowers in spring with prolific purple or mauve flowers.
Cultivation:
Very hardy and quick growing plant that requires annual prunning by 1/3 if a busy shape is desired. It prefers well drained moist soils with some shelter from direct summer sunlight. Very successful with annual fertilizing after flowering. It is propogated by cuttings, but can also be grown from the slow germinating seeds.
Common Uses:
This plant is mainly used as an ornamental as well as for essential oils and spices.
Culinary:
The species is used as food by the hepialid moth larvae. Humans use the plant for spices.
Medicinal:
Some essential oils are made from this plant.
Folklore and Magic: Unknown.
Mythology: Unknown.
NOTE: This article is in constant state of research, updating, and evolution. If you have information to add, please submit to [email protected]
Photos from:
Australian National Botanical Gardens*
Canberra, Australia Capital Territory, Australia *
Bibliography and Recommended Reading:
- Absolute Astronomy ~ Prostanthera; by unknown author; notes taken from web site in 2011; Absolute Astronomy; www.absoluteastronomy.com.
- Australian National Botanical Gardens ~ Prostanthera stricta; by unknown author; notes take from web site in 2011; ANBG: www.anbg.gov.au.
- Australian Native Plants Society ~ Prostanthera stricta; by unknown author; notes taken from web site in 2011; ANPSA; www.anpsa.org.au.
- Royal Botanic Gardens & Domain Trust ~ Prostanthera stricta; by unknown author; notes taken from web site in 2011; RBGSYN: www.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au.
- Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia ~ Prostanthera stricta; by unknown author; notes taken from web site in 2011; wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org.
- Australian Native Plants Society ~ Prostanthera stricta; by unknown author; notes taken from web site in 2011; ANPSA; www.anpsa.org.au.
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