Common name: Spiked Mintbush
Prostanthera phylicifolia F.Muell. APNI* 
Description: Erect, ± compact to spreading shrub, 0.5–2 m tall. Branchlets 4-ridged, sparsely to densely covered with ± sessile glands and with short, antrorsely appressed hairs between ridges and nodes (not present elsewhere).
Leaves with petiole to 1.5 mm long, lamina narrow-ovate to oblong, 5–17 mm long, 1.5–4 mm wide; upper and lower surface mid-green, glabrous (occasional short appressed antrorse hairs on midrib) and sparsely glandular; base cuneate to obtuse; apex obtuse; margin entire and strongly recurved; petiole to 1 mm long.
Flowers appearing axillary, on a foliose conflorescence. Pedicel 1–2.1 mm long. Prophylls persistent, linear terete, to 4 mm long, 0.1–0.3 mm wide. Calyx 4–7 mm long and mostly glabrous, tube 2–3 mm long, lower lobe 2.5–4 mm long, upper lobe 3–5 mm long. Corolla 12–16 mm long, white to pale lilac with purple or maroon spots in throat and yellow mixed with red spots on inside of lower lobe and throat. Stamens with filament white and anthers with white and lilac, connective appendage 0.8–1.5 mm long.
Fruiting calyx slightly larger than flowering calyx (accrescent), with tube 2–3 mm long; lower lobe 2.5–4.5 mm long; upper lobe 3–5 mm long. Mericarps 1–2 mm long and to c. 1 mm wide, surface reticulate and glabrous, light to dark brown.
Flowering: October to March
Distribution and occurrence: Widespread throughout high country in NSW and eastern Victoria. NSW subdivisions: SC, ST. Grows in heath and sclerophyll forest on granite outcrops and hillsides, in shallow sandy soils.
NSW subdivisions: SC, ST
Other Australian states: Vic.
Prostanthera scutellarioides has often been confused with this species because both species have leaves that are nearly glabrous and have a narrow lamina.
Text by B. J. Conn & T.C.Wilson
Taxon concept: Flora of NSW 3 (1992)
APNI* Provides a link to the Australian Plant Name Index (hosted by the Australian National Botanic Gardens) for comprehensive bibliographic data
***The AVH map option provides a detailed interactive Australia wide distribution map drawn from collections held by all major Australian herbaria participating in the Australian Virtual Herbarium project.
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