''Mentha atrolilacina'', or slender mint, is a species within the '' Mentha'' (mint) genus,

endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found elsew ...

to southeastern

South Australia South Australia (commonly abbreviated as SA) is a state in the southern central part of Australia. It covers some of the most arid parts of the country. With a total land area of , it is the fourth-largest of Australia's states and territories ...

. It has been identified only within the Honans Native Forest Reserve, near Mount Gambier, South Australia. Prior to its identification in 2010, specimens of ''M. atrolilacina'' had been considered part of the related species '' Mentha diemenica.'' The species was discovered by the South Australian Seed Conservation Centre (SASCC).

Name

The taxonomic name ''atrolilacina'' derives from

Latin Latin (, or , ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally a dialect spoken in the lower Tiber area (then known as Latium) around present-day Rome, but through the power of the ...

meaning "dark lilac," in reference to the color of the

corolla Corolla may refer to: *Corolla (botany), the petals of a flower, considered as a unit *Toyota Corolla, an automobile model name * Corolla (headgear), an ancient headdress in the form of a circlet or crown * ''Corolla'' (gastropod), a genus of moll ...

lobes of the species. It shares its common name "Slender mint" with the species ''Mentha diemenica'' from which it was distinguished.

Description

''Mentha atrolilacina'' is similar in appearance to '' Mentha satureioides'' (native pennyroyal), ''Mentha diemenica'' and '' Mentha pulegium'' (pennyroyal). It grows up to 55 centimeters high, with hairy stems and branches. Its aromatic leaves are

ovate Ovate may refer to: *Ovate (egg-shaped) leaves, tepals, or other botanical parts *Ovate, a type of prehistoric stone hand axe *Ovates, one of three ranks of membership in the Welsh Gorsedd *Vates In modern English, the nouns vates () and ovat ...

to broadly ovate and grow 6 to 11 millimeters long. ''Mentha atrolilacina'' is distinguished from ''M. diemenica'' primarily by its much darker corolla. It also differs in its more broadly

cordate Cordate is an adjective meaning 'heart-shaped' and is most typically used for: * Cordate (leaf shape), in plants * Cordate axe, a prehistoric stone tool See also * Chordate A chordate () is an animal of the phylum Chordata (). All chordat ...

leaves and its included (non-protruding)

stamen The stamen (plural ''stamina'' or ''stamens'') is the pollen-producing reproductive organ of a flower. Collectively the stamens form the androecium., p. 10 Morphology and terminology A stamen typically consists of a stalk called the filame ...

Notes

References

* * * {{Taxonbar, from=Q27448106 atrolilacina Endemic flora of Australia Plants described in 2010