Lamiaceae

DICOTYLEDONS

LAMIACEAE - Mint Family

A family consisting of about 3200 species, mostly perennial herbs and shrubs, often with aromatic leaves in pairs or whorls. A cosmopolitan family found mainly in tropical and sub-tropical regions. Western Australia has around 112 species, 20 of which are naturalised. Hyptis suaveolens (hyptis, mintweed) is a perennial herb found in dense clumps along roadsides, over-grazed pastures and around stockyards across the tropics, including the Kimberley region. It is an erect, fast-growing herb with branched, semi-woody stems up to 2m tall. When crushed, the plant gives off a characteristic minty smell. The broad leaves are in opposite pairs up the stem, with small mauve flowers in clusters in the upper leaf axils. The persistent spiny calyx enclosing the seeds assists with their dispersal by adhering to clothing, fur and wool. Flowers and fruits in autumn and winter. Native to tropical America.

Hyptis suaveolens, GK

Lavandula stoechas (topped lavender, Spanish lavender) is an easily-recognised, grey, many-stemmed shrub up to 60cm tall, with crowded, linear, paired leaves that are strongly aromatic when crushed. The dense flower head, produced in winter and spring, is borne on a stalk from the shoot tip and is topped by a tuft of large sterile, purple bracts. A garden escape, native to the Mediterranean region, and found on roadsides, wasteland, creeks and drainage lines between Perth and Manjimup. Less common are L. angustifolia (English lavender) and L. dentata (French lavender), both recorded in Perth as garden escapes.

Lavandula stoechas , RR

Leonotis leonurus (lion's tail) is a shrub to 2m, with opposite, hairy, linear leaves and orange-scarlet flowers in terminal leafy whorls, produced in autumn. Originally from South Africa, it is a garden escape, found between Perth and Augusta. L. nepetifolia is a slender annual herb, native to tropical South America. The erect stems reach 2m and are sparsely branched, quite thick and covered with pale hairs. The leaves have toothed margins and are held in opposite pairs, the blade as long as the stalk. Lower leaves measure up to 12x6cm, decreasing in size up the stem. The tubular orange flowers are in dense spherical clusters along the upper part of the stem. The mature inflorescence forms a hard, spikey ball. It has been recorded recently on disturbed sites in the Kimberley region and is naturalised as a garden escape in Kings Park. It is a serious creekline weed in the Northern Territory.

Leonotis nepetifolia , GK

Marrubium vulgare (horehound) DP is an aromatic perennial herb native to Europe, western Asia and north Africa. A pale, spreading, bushy plant growing to 80cm, with leaves and stems covered with white, cottony hairs, especially on the lower leaf surface. The leaves are in opposite pairs, deeply veined with irregular, crinkly margins. Small white flowers are produced during summer and autumn in dense whorls in the leaf axils along the upper part of the shoot. Dispersed by the dry, hooked, seed-bearing calyx that contaminates wool. Found near Perth, in the lower south-west, the eastern Goldfields and the Nullarbor.

Marrubium vulgare , APB

Mentha aquatica (water mint) has escaped from gardens into creeks around Pemberton. It grows from rhizomes and has toothed, heart-shaped leaves and spikes of mauve-pink flowers in summer. Native to Europe. M. spicata (spearmint) is a large perennial herb with a familiar mint smell, spreading by rhizomes and reaching 1m in height. Leaves up to 8cm long, in opposite pairs. Small, pink-mauve flowers crowded in a narrow spike up to 9cm long at the shoot tip, produced in summer. Native to Europe, widely cultivated as a culinary herb, naturalised in disturbed creeks and swamps throughout the south-west. The related mints
M. x piperita (eau de Cologne mint) and
M. suaveolens (apple mint) are occasional garden escapes in wet habitats between Perth and Albany. M. pulegium (pennyroyal) DP is a rhizomatous perennial, native to Europe and western Asia. Stems prostrate with relatively small, elliptical leaves, until elongating to produce the flowering stem. Mauve flowers produced in dense clusters along upper part of the stem, in late spring and summer. Has a strong, mint-like aroma. Particularly abundant in poorly drained pastures along the south coast, and along water courses and other damp situations around Perth and in the lower south-west.

Mentha pulegium, RK

Ocimum (basil) are branched, aromatic, culinary herbs found occasionally on roadsides near settlements in the Kimberley, especially around Broome. Flowers white or pale mauve. O. basilicum (sweet basil) has elliptic leaves and flowers up to 1cm long in May-June. Found at Broome and on Kimberley Downs Station. Native to tropical Africa and Asia. O. tenuiflorum (sacred basil) has narrowly ovate leaves and flowers up to 0.5cm long produced in summer. Recorded from Ord River Station and near Halls Creek. Pantropical, native to tropical Asia.

Ocimum basilicum , RR

Prunella vulgaris (self-heal) is a perennial creeping herb native to Europe, nearly hairless. Leaves opposite, on short stalks. Tubular, violet flowers in a dense terminal spike up to 6cm long, produced in summer. An occasional weed of water courses, pastures and other moist habitats in disturbed woodlands in the lower south-west.

Prunella vulgaris , RC

Salvia reflexa (mintweed) DP is an annual herb with a strong, minty aroma and a felt-like covering of grey hairs. It has narrow leaves in opposite pairs and produces pale blue flowers in spring and summer in loose spikes at the ends of the branches. Native to North America, it is found occasionally around Perth, Kalgoorlie, Coolgardie and Esperance. S. verbenaca (wild sage) is a late-spring flowering perennial herb, with rosettes of rough, lobed, deeply-veined, stalked leaves. The flowering shoot is quadrangular, up to 1m high, with small sessile leaves. The flowers are blue to purple, in whorls of six, widely spaced along the terminal portions of the shoot, appearing from spring to autumn. An occasional weed of road and railsides, pastures and disturbed woodlands throughout the south-west. Native to Europe and Asia.

Salvia verbenaca , RR

Stachys arvensis (stagger weed) is a weak, hairy annual, native to Europe. Its upright stems bear small, broad leaves, deeply veined with rounded teeth on the leaf margin. The small flowers are pink to purple in small clusters in the axils of the upper leaves. Flowering in winter and early spring. Widespread in cultivated agricultural and disturbed land, granite outcrops and urban woodlands throughout the south-west; toxic to livestock, causing 'staggers'.

Stachys arvensis, PH

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A family consisting of about 3200 species, mostly perennial herbs and shrubs, often with aromatic leaves in pairs or whorls. A cosmopolitan family found mainly in tropical and sub-tropical regions. Western Australia has around 112 species, 20 of which are naturalised. *Hyptis suaveolens* (hyptis, mintweed) is a perennial herb found in dense clumps along roadsides, over-grazed pastures and around stockyards across the tropics, including the Kimberley region. It is an erect, fast-growing herb with branched, semi-woody stems up to 2m tall. When crushed, the plant gives off a characteristic minty smell. The broad leaves are in opposite pairs up the stem, with small mauve flowers in clusters in the upper leaf axils. The persistent spiny calyx enclosing the seeds assists with their dispersal by adhering to clothing, fur and wool. Flowers and fruits in autumn and winter. Native to tropical America.	*Hyptis suaveolens*, GK
*Lavandula stoechas* (topped lavender, Spanish lavender) is an easily-recognised, grey, many-stemmed shrub up to 60cm tall, with crowded, linear, paired leaves that are strongly aromatic when crushed. The dense flower head, produced in winter and spring, is borne on a stalk from the shoot tip and is topped by a tuft of large sterile, purple bracts. A garden escape, native to the Mediterranean region, and found on roadsides, wasteland, creeks and drainage lines between Perth and Manjimup. Less common are *L. angustifolia* (English lavender) and *L. dentata* (French lavender), both recorded in Perth as garden escapes.	*Lavandula stoechas* , RR
*Leonotis leonurus* (lion's tail) is a shrub to 2m, with opposite, hairy, linear leaves and orange-scarlet flowers in terminal leafy whorls, produced in autumn. Originally from South Africa, it is a garden escape, found between Perth and Augusta. *L. nepetifolia* is a slender annual herb, native to tropical South America. The erect stems reach 2m and are sparsely branched, quite thick and covered with pale hairs. The leaves have toothed margins and are held in opposite pairs, the blade as long as the stalk. Lower leaves measure up to 12x6cm, decreasing in size up the stem. The tubular orange flowers are in dense spherical clusters along the upper part of the stem. The mature inflorescence forms a hard, spikey ball. It has been recorded recently on disturbed sites in the Kimberley region and is naturalised as a garden escape in Kings Park. It is a serious creekline weed in the Northern Territory.	*Leonotis nepetifolia* , GK
*Marrubium vulgare* (horehound) DP is an aromatic perennial herb native to Europe, western Asia and north Africa. A pale, spreading, bushy plant growing to 80cm, with leaves and stems covered with white, cottony hairs, especially on the lower leaf surface. The leaves are in opposite pairs, deeply veined with irregular, crinkly margins. Small white flowers are produced during summer and autumn in dense whorls in the leaf axils along the upper part of the shoot. Dispersed by the dry, hooked, seed-bearing calyx that contaminates wool. Found near Perth, in the lower south-west, the eastern Goldfields and the Nullarbor.	*Marrubium vulgare* , APB
*Mentha aquatica* (water mint) has escaped from gardens into creeks around Pemberton. It grows from rhizomes and has toothed, heart-shaped leaves and spikes of mauve-pink flowers in summer. Native to Europe. *M. spicata* (spearmint) is a large perennial herb with a familiar mint smell, spreading by rhizomes and reaching 1m in height. Leaves up to 8cm long, in opposite pairs. Small, pink-mauve flowers crowded in a narrow spike up to 9cm long at the shoot tip, produced in summer. Native to Europe, widely cultivated as a culinary herb, naturalised in disturbed creeks and swamps throughout the south-west. The related mints M. x piperita (eau de Cologne mint) and *M. suaveolens* (apple mint) are occasional garden escapes in wet habitats between Perth and Albany. *M. pulegium* (pennyroyal) DP is a rhizomatous perennial, native to Europe and western Asia. Stems prostrate with relatively small, elliptical leaves, until elongating to produce the flowering stem. Mauve flowers produced in dense clusters along upper part of the stem, in late spring and summer. Has a strong, mint-like aroma. Particularly abundant in poorly drained pastures along the south coast, and along water courses and other damp situations around Perth and in the lower south-west.	*Mentha pulegium*, RK
*Ocimum* (basil) are branched, aromatic, culinary herbs found occasionally on roadsides near settlements in the Kimberley, especially around Broome. Flowers white or pale mauve. *O. basilicum* (sweet basil) has elliptic leaves and flowers up to 1cm long in May-June. Found at Broome and on Kimberley Downs Station. Native to tropical Africa and Asia. *O. tenuiflorum* (sacred basil) has narrowly ovate leaves and flowers up to 0.5cm long produced in summer. Recorded from Ord River Station and near Halls Creek. Pantropical, native to tropical Asia.	*Ocimum* *basilicum* , RR
*Prunella vulgaris* (self-heal) is a perennial creeping herb native to Europe, nearly hairless. Leaves opposite, on short stalks. Tubular, violet flowers in a dense terminal spike up to 6cm long, produced in summer. An occasional weed of water courses, pastures and other moist habitats in disturbed woodlands in the lower south-west.	*Prunella vulgaris* , RC
*Salvia reflexa* (mintweed) DP is an annual herb with a strong, minty aroma and a felt-like covering of grey hairs. It has narrow leaves in opposite pairs and produces pale blue flowers in spring and summer in loose spikes at the ends of the branches. Native to North America, it is found occasionally around Perth, Kalgoorlie, Coolgardie and Esperance. *S. verbenaca* (wild sage) is a late-spring flowering perennial herb, with rosettes of rough, lobed, deeply-veined, stalked leaves. The flowering shoot is quadrangular, up to 1m high, with small sessile leaves. The flowers are blue to purple, in whorls of six, widely spaced along the terminal portions of the shoot, appearing from spring to autumn. An occasional weed of road and railsides, pastures and disturbed woodlands throughout the south-west. Native to Europe and Asia.	*Salvia* *verbenaca* , RR
*Stachys arvensis* (stagger weed) is a weak, hairy annual, native to Europe. Its upright stems bear small, broad leaves, deeply veined with rounded teeth on the leaf margin. The small flowers are pink to purple in small clusters in the axils of the upper leaves. Flowering in winter and early spring. Widespread in cultivated agricultural and disturbed land, granite outcrops and urban woodlands throughout the south-west; toxic to livestock, causing 'staggers'.	*Stachys arvensis*, PH