Plectranthus apreptus

Family

Lamiaceae

Botanical Name

Plectranthus apreptus S.T.Blake

Blake, S.T. (1971) Contributions from the Queensland Herbarium 9: 47. Type: Freshwater Creek prope Cairns in Queensland, Blake 21730 (BRI.100703-4); isotypi distribuendi..

Common name

Cockspur flower

Stem

Usually flowers and fruits as a herb but occasionally grows into a shrub about 1 m tall.

Leaves

Upper and lower leaf blade surfaces clothed in white or pale brown hairs. Orange-yellow glands visible on the underside. Leaf blades about 2.5-7 x 1.5-6 cm, petioles about 12-25 mm long. Upper surface of the leaf blade arched between the main lateral and reticulate veins.

Flowers

Calyx about 1.5-2 mm long, outer surface hairy and glandular. Corolla about 8 mm long, outer surface hairy and glandular, glands orange-yellow. Pollen white. Ovary 3 or 4 lobed with a style in the centre. Nectary higher than the ovary.

Fruit

Fruiting calyx about 4.5-5.5 mm long, glabrescent. Nutlets shining dark brown to black, about 0.8-0.85 x 0.75-0.8 mm.

Seedlings

Cotyledons about 5 x 4 mm, pubescent on both the upper and lower surfaces. At the tenth leaf stage: leaf blade thick, about 55-60 x 42-45 mm, petiole about 30 mm long. Upper surface of the leaf blade arched between the reticulate veins.

Distribution and Ecology

Endemic to Queensland, occurs in NEQ. Altitudinal range from near sea level to 1200 m. Usually grows in rocky areas in open forest, monsoon forest and rain forest.