Ptilotus benlii

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Ptilotus benlii
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Amaranthaceae
Genus: Ptilotus
Species:
P. benlii
Binomial name
Ptilotus benlii

Ptilotus benlii is a species of flowering plant in the family Amaranthaceae and is endemic to northern Western Australia. It is an erect, perennial herb with a ribbed stem, narrowly lance-shaped stem leaves with the narrower end towards the base, green or white, oval or cylindrical spikes of flowers with long, silky hairs, and five fertile stamens.

Contents

Description

Ptilotus benlii is an erect, perennial herb that typically grows up to 45 cm (18 in) high, with a ribbed, hairy stem. The stem leaves are narrowly lance-shaped stem with the narrower end towards the base, 10–60 mm (0.39–2.36 in) long and 1–4 mm (0.039–0.157 in) wide. There are no leaves at the base of the plant. The flowers are green or white, borne in oval to cylindrical heads 20–48 mm (0.79–1.89 in) long and 28–34 mm (1.1–1.3 in) wide on the end of stems. There are egg-shaped, glabrous, transparent bracts 5.5–7.7 mm (0.22–0.30 in) long and 3.0–3.2 mm (0.12–0.13 in) wide, and broadly egg-shaped bracteoles. The tepals are narrowly lance-shaped, 13–16 mm (0.51–0.63 in) long, 1.1–1.8 mm (0.043–0.071 in) wide, the inner tepals with woolly hairs. There are five fertile stamens, the style is 5.5–7.3 mm (0.22–0.29 in) long and the ovary is glabrous. Flowering occurs from mid to late spring. [2] [3]

Taxonomy

Ptilotus benlii was first formally described in 2018 by Timothy Hammer and Robert Davis in the journal Nuytsia from specimens collected 20 km (12 mi) north-west of Northampton in 2005. [2] [4] The specific epithet (benlii) honours the German botanist Gerhard Benl (1910–2001), for his significant contribution to the taxonomy of the genus Ptilotus. [2]

Distribution and habitat

This species of Ptilotus grows in a range of habitats, often in open scrub or mallee woodland with Acacia rostellifera , from near Northampton to Nungarin and Youanmi Station in the Avon Wheatbelt, Geraldton Sandplains, Murchison and Yalgoo bioregions of Western Australia. [2] [3]

Conservation status

Ptilotus benlii is listed as "not threatened" by the Government of Western Australia Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions. [3]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Ptilotus benlii". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 16 February 2025.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Hammer, Timothy A.; Davis, Robert W. (2017). "Ptilotus benlii (Amaranthaceae), a new species from Western Australia". Nuytsia. 28: 299–302. Retrieved 16 February 2025.
  3. 1 2 3 "Ptilotus benlii". FloraBase . Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
  4. ↑ "Ptilotus benlii". Australian Plant Name Index. Retrieved 16 February 2025.
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