About Prostanthera howelliae Blakely
Prostanthera howelliae is an erect or spreading, virgate shrub that reaches 0.3–1.5 m in both height and spread. Its branches are densely covered in short hairs. When crushed, its leaves give off a fragrant scent; they are narrow egg-shaped, 2.5–10 mm long and 0.5–1.5 mm wide, with edges that curve under. Leaves have a very short stalk, sometimes carry a maroon tinge, and are covered in short, cone-shaped hairs. Flowers grow singly in leaf axils, with two leaf-like, linear bracteoles at their base. These bracteoles are around 1.5 mm long, and remain on the plant after flowering finishes. The tube formed by the sepals is 4–5 mm long, with its tubular section about 2 mm long. The petal tube is 8–10 mm long, pink to purple-mauve in colour, with spots inside the tube. Like many other prostantheras, the petal tube has two lips: the upper lip has two lobes, and the lower lip has three lobes. This species flowers in spring. It grows in woodland and shrubland, most often in gravelly or sandy soil, and occurs in the eastern half of New South Wales and in Queensland.
