Plectranthus alloplectus

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Flower stems (racemes) are 6-25 cm long and grow singly or in groups of ...
Each flower stem has 6-13 violet blue flowers
The flower calyx is 1.7-2.3 mm long, the corolla 8-12 mm long and the stalk 1-3 mm long
Flowering has been recorded from December to June and fruiting in June, September and October

Fruit:

The fruit contains 4 seeds (nutlets) measuring 0.85-1 mm long x 0.8-0.95 mm wide

Leaves:

Leaves are narrowly ovateG with stalks 0.2-1 cm long, and measure 3-7.5 cm long x 1-3.5 cm wide
Lleaf margins have 9-17 pairs of short, broad serrations
Both leaf surfaces are hairy
The leaf veins are in grooves on the upper leaf surfaces, but are raised beneath

Stem & branches:

Roots:

Habit:

Small herbaceous succulent consisting of a few erect to spreading or ascending sparsely branched stems that are less than 1 m in height
Usually no higher than 30 cm

Habitat:

Occurs in open eucalypt woodland and heathland on rhyolite or trachyte rock-outcrops and pavements
P. alloplectus is found from 240 to 950 m above sea level, where it appears to be restricted to rhyolite or trachyte rock-outcrops and pavements
It occurs in open eucalypt woodland dominated by Eucalyptus dura (an ironbark), E. acmenoides (white mahogany), E. biturbinata (grey gum), E. campanulata (New England blackbutt) and E. microcorys (tallowwood),
It also occurs in heathland dominated by Acacia brunioides subsp. brunioides and Leptospermum microcarpum (small-fruited may). Associated ground cover species include Crassula sieberiana subsp. sieberiana (Australian crassula), Hoya australis subsp. australis (wax flower), Plectranthus argentatus, P. graveolens (native coleus) and Goodenia grandiflora (mountain primrose).

Distribution:

Endemic to eastern Australia from Mt Greville near Boonah in south-eastern Queensland to near Woodenbong on the Northern Tablelands in north-eastern NSW
Recorded in one state forest and three national parks in Queensland

Additional notes:

Conservation
- No threatening processes or possible threats have been identified in Queensland.
- Protective measure for operations conducted under the Forestry Act 1959 is the establishment of protective buffers that exclude clearance.
- P. alloplectus is listed as rare in Queensland based on what was thought to be a restricted distribution.1,3,6 However, the species is abundant at sites where it occurs.3,6 Recent surveys suggest the plant is not as rare as first thought and is common throughout its range, occurring at several localities in the three Queensland national parks in which it is recorded.3,7 The Queensland Herbarium has only one collection from state forest SF 735 near Mount Barney National Park, but the plant is known to be locally common there
Former Distribution & Status
- Formally described in 1971,2 P. alloplectus was probably first collected from Mt French (currently within Moogerah National Park) in June 19363,6. Since then it has been found at Mt Greville near Boonah and at several mountainous locations in south-eastern Queensland
Current Distribution
- Currently, P. alloplectus still occurs in its former restricted geographic range and is endemic to eastern Australia from Mt Greville near Boonah in Queensland to near Woodenbong on the Northern Tablelands in New South Wales.3,6 It has been recorded in Queensland state forest SF 735.6 It is also recorded in Main Range, Moogerah Peaks and Mount Barney National Parks in Queensland.6THREATS & MANAGEMENT

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