Seaforth Mintbush - profile

Indicative distribution

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Key:

known

predicted

The areas shown in pink and/purple are the sub-regions where the species or community is known or predicted to occur. They may not occur thoughout the sub-region but may be restricted to certain areas. ( click here to see geographic restrictions). The information presented in this map is only indicative and may contain errors and omissions.

Scientific name: Prostanthera marifolia

Conservation status in NSW: Critically Endangered

Commonwealth status: Critically Endangered

Gazetted date: 04 Jul 2008

Profile last updated: 12 Aug 2019

Description

Prostanthera marifolia is an erect, straggly, openly branched shrub up to 0.3 m high. Its branches are sparsely hairy, the green leaves, which are slightly hairy, are faintly aromatic when crushed. The leaves are elliptical and approximately 8-12 mm long and 4-6 mm wide and may have one lobe on each side, rarely two. The midrib vein is prominent on the underside of the leaf. Prostanthera marifolia has lobed purple to mauve flowers that appear in spring. The flowers are tubed at the base, fanning out to lobed petals, and have short anthers. The flowers are slightly hairy and are approximately 7-10 mm long and appear close to the stem, just above the leaf. The seeds are slightly oval and cylindrical, and are approximately 1 mm long, 0.5-0.7 mm diameter.

Distribution

Prostanthera marifolia is currently only known from the northern Sydney suburb of Seaforth and has a very highly restricted distribution within the Sydney Basin Bioregion. The single population is fragmented by urbanisation into three small sites. All known sites are within an area of 2x2 km. The sites are within the local government area of Northern Beaches Council.

Habitat and ecology

Occurs in localised patches in or in close proximity to the endangered Duffys Forest ecological community.
Located on deeply weathered clay-loam soils associated with ironstone and scattered shale lenses, a soil type which only occurs on ridge tops and has been extensively urbanised.

Regional distribution and habitat

Click on a region below to view detailed distribution, habitat and vegetation information.

Threats

Risk from catastrophic events because of small number of extant populations and low species abundance.
Only known from one area in Northern Sydney.
Habitat degradation from adjacent land uses such as weed invasion, fertiliser and herbicide drift, storm water runoff and seepage, rubbish dumping and trampling.
Inappropriate fire regimes, especially high frequency fire.
Infection of native plants by Phytophthora cinnamomi.
Mixed weed invasion.
Loss of habitat from small scale clearing.
Lack of distributional information. Other populations potentially exist in the local area, which could become evident following a fire event.

Recovery strategies

A targeted strategy for managing this species has been developed under the Saving Our Species program; click here for details. For more information on the Saving Our Species program click here

Activities to assist this species

Active management of sites to control threats, escpeically weeds, access and drainage.
Implement appropriate fire regime
Liaise with adjancent land managers to ensure management practices avoid or minimse impacts to known populations, including the use of fertilisers and herbicies, access and drainage.