Prostanthera ovalifolia
R.Br.Erect, spreading to dense shrub, 1–4 m high, not aromatic or only slightly so; branches 4-angled, moderately covered with short, curled hairs, at least on the ridges, sparsely glandular. Leaves narrow-ovate to broad-ovate, 5–40 mm long, 3–12 mm wide, mid to dark green, paler below, glabrous except for sparsely hairy midvein below, densely covered in subsessile glands, base attenuate, margin entire to slightly and irregularly sinuate or lobed in juvenile plants, apex obtuse to subacute; petiole 1–6 mm long. Inflorescence a terminal panicle or raceme; bracteoles not persistent, 1–2 mm long and 0.2–0.3 mm wide. Calyx 2–3.5 mm long, tube 1–2.5 mm long, adaxial lobe 0.5–1.5 mm long (enlarged in fruit); corolla mauve or deep blue-purple, rarely white, 6–18 mm long; anthers without appendages or to c. 0.5 mm long. Flowers Aug.–Nov.
VVP, GipP, OtP, EGL, EGU, HSF, VAlp. Qld, NSW, Vic.
Prostanthera ovalifolia is treated here in the broad sense and in Victoria it includes native and naturalised occurrences. This species complex likely represents several currently unrecognised taxa. Plants east of Mallacoota are likely to be an undescribed species native to far eastern Victoria and south-eastern New South Wales. Elsewhere in Victoria plants are introduced forms of P. ovalifolia native to New South Wales, that have escaped cultivation.
