Ptilotus arthrolasius

Ptilotus arthrolasius
Near the Yanrey turnoff
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Order:	Caryophyllales
Family:	Amaranthaceae
Genus:	Ptilotus
Species:	P. arthrolasius
Binomial name
Ptilotus arthrolasius F.Muell.[1]
Synonyms[1]
Ptilotus forrestii F.Muell. Trichinium arthrolasium (F.Muell.) F.Muell. ex Benth. Trichinium forrestii (F.Muell.) C.A.Gardner

Habit

Ptilotus arthrolasius is a species of flowering plant in the family Amaranthaceae and is endemic to north-western Australia. It is a compact perennial herb or shrub with oblong to lance-shaped leaves, and spikes of maroon to pink flowers with five fertile stamens.

Description

Ptilotus arthrolasius is a compact perennial herb or shrub that typically grows to 20–75 cm (7.9–29.5 in) high, has many branches, and is covered with short, yellow hairs. Its leaves are oblong to lance-shaped, 5–85 mm (0.20–3.35 in) long, 1.5–12 mm (0.059–0.472 in) wide and narrowed into a short petiole. The flowers are maroon to pink and borne in cylindrical to hemispherical spikes 8–55 mm (0.31–2.17 in) long and 8–17 mm (0.31–0.67 in) wide on a peduncle less than 12 mm (0.47 in) long with bracts 3.3–3.8 mm (0.13–0.15 in) long and bracteoles 3.3–3.6 mm (0.13–0.14 in) long. The tepals are 5.3–6.2 mm (0.21–0.24 in) long with a tapered tip with five fertile stamens and a style 1.8–2.1 mm (0.071–0.083 in) long. Flowering occurs from April to October.[2][3]

Taxonomy

Ptilotus arthrolasius was first formally described in 1868 by Ferdinand von Mueller in his Fragmenta Phytographiae Australiae from specimens he collected near "Sturt's Creek".[4] The specific epithet (arthrolasius) means 'shaggy or hairy branches'.[5]

Distribution and habitat

This species of Ptilotus is widespread in the Carnarvon, Central Ranges, Dampierland, Gascoyne, Gibson Desert, Great Sandy Desert, Little Sandy Desert, Murchison, Ord Victoria Plain, Pilbara and Tanami bioregions of northern Western Australia and the Northern Territory, where it grows in pebbly red loam on sandplains and sand dunes.[2][6]

Conservation status

This species of Ptilotus is listed as "not threatened" by the Government of Western Australia Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions,[2] and as of "least concern" under the Northern Territory Territory Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act.[6]

See also

• List of Ptilotus species

References

1. "Ptilotus arthrolasius". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 28 January 2025.
2. "Ptilotus arthrolasius". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
3. von Mueller, Ferdinand (1868). Fragmenta Phytographiae Australiae. Melbourne: Victorian Government Printer. pp. 232–233. Retrieved 28 January 2025.
4. "Ptilotus arthrolasius". Australian Plant Name Index. Retrieved 28 January 2025.
5. George, Alex; Sharr, Francis (2021). Western Australian Plant Names and Their Meanings (3rd ed.). Kardinya, WA: Four Gables Press. p. 138. ISBN 9780958034180.
6. "Ptilotus arthrolasius". Northern Territory Government. Retrieved 28 January 2025.