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Synonyms: Prostanthera lasianthos var. subcoriacea F.Muell. ex Benth. APNI*
Prostanthera lasianthos Labill. variant 'subcoriacea' APNI*
Prostanthera lasianthos var. Typical variant Labill. APNI*

Description: Erect shrub (sometimes compact) to medium-sized tree 5–8 metres tall, although sometimes compact and 1–4 m tall. Branchlets mostly glabrous or with occasional hairs on ridges of lateral grooves, moderately to densely glandular.

Glabrous, or with occasional hairs, or sparsely hairy, hairs antrorse, dark green above, paler below, margin often maroon; petiole to 2–15.5 mm long; lamina narrowly ovate, ovate to elliptic, 16–123 mm long, 6–29 mm wide, sparsely to densely glandular with sessile glands most distinctive on the abaxial surface, base cuneate or sometimes oblique, margin usually slightly recurved, irregularly toothed with 6–30 teeth per side, apex obtuse, venation faint or distinct, with midrib and basal secondary veins slightly raised on abaxial surface; slightly aromatic when crushed.

Inflorescence compound, usually with at least 30 flowers; pherophylls not persistent, narrowly ovate to narrowly obovate, 4–6 mm long, 1–2 mm wide. Pedicel 0.4–2 mm long; prophylls persistent, narrowly ovate to narrowly elliptic, often appearing almost linear, 1.4–3 mm long, 0.3–0.4 mm wide, base and apex tapering. Calyx mid green, usually with distinct maroon tinge, almost glabrous with an occasional hair, or sparsely to moderately hairy, hairs antrorse or spreading, moderately to densely glandular, tube 1.6–3.5 mm long, abaxial lobe 2–4 mm long, adaxial lobe 1–3.5 mm long. Corolla 10–14 mm long, pale mauve to almost white, with purple/lilac/maroon markings on inner surface of tube and lateral and base of adaxial lobe, with dull yellow-orange to pale orange dots on abaxial inner surface of tube and base of abaxial medial lobe. Stamens 7–13.5, connective appendage 0.1–0.2 mm long.

Fruiting calyx enlarged or not enlarged. Mericarps 2–3 mm long.

Habitat Photo Tanja Lenz

Habit Photo Tanja Lenz

Flower Photo T.C. Wilson

Fruit Photo T.C. Wilson

Herbarium Sheet

Herbarium Sheet

Flowering: November – February.

Distribution and occurrence: Widespread throughout highland regions of Tasmania, Victoria and New South Wales. NSW subdivisions: NT, CC, SC, NT, CT, ST.

Commonly found along watercourses and moist gullies, associated with wet sclerophyll forests. Establishes in disturbed sites such as along roads and other openings in the forest.
NSW subdivisions: SC, NT, CT, ST
Other Australian states: Vic. Tas.

AVH map***

This species is morphologically variable and widespread. A number of informal variants can be recognized, and several groups of morphologically distinct populations that were originally included as this taxon are now formally described as separate species. Populations growing at higher altitudes, particularly on exposed sites, tend to have reduced leaf size and/or number of teeth on leaf margin.