Ptilotus chortophytus

Ptilotus chortophytus
Conservation status
Priority One — Poorly Known Taxa (DEC)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Order:	Caryophyllales
Family:	Amaranthaceae
Genus:	Ptilotus
Species:	P. chortophytus
Binomial name
Ptilotus chortophytus Diels (Schinz) [1]
Synonyms [1]
Ptilotus chortophytum J.W.Green orth. var. Trichinium chortophytumDiels

Ptilotus chortophytus is a species of flowering plant in the family Amaranthaceae and is endemic to Western Australia. It is a perennial herb, with leaves that are hairy at first, later glabrous, and oval or cylindrical spikes of green or yellow flowers.

Description

Ptilotus chortophytus is a prostrate perennial herb with several stems that are hairy at first, later glabrous. Its leaves are egg-shaped, 4–35 mm (0.16–1.38 in) long and 1–5 mm (0.039–0.197 in) wide. The flowers are densely arranged in oval or cylindrical, green or yellow spikes. The bracts are 3.2–6 mm (0.13–0.24 in) long and the bracteoles 3–5 mm (0.12–0.20 in) long and awned with a prominent midrib. The outer tepals are 6.7–7.6 mm (0.26–0.30 in) long, the inner tepals 6.2–7.2 mm (0.24–0.28 in) long with a tuft of hairs. The style is 4.5–5.0 mm (0.18–0.20 in) long, S-shaped and obliquely fixed to the ovary. ^[2]

Taxonomy

This species was first formally described in 1904 by Ludwig Diels who gave it the name Trichinium chortophytum in Botanische Jahrbücher für Systematik, Pflanzengeschichte und Pflanzengeographie from specimens collected between Northampton and Port Gregory. ^{[3] [4]} In 1934 Hans Schinz transferred the species to Ptilotus as P. chortophytus. The specific epithet (chortophytus) means 'fodder plant'. ^[5]

Distribution and habitat

Ptilotus chortophytus occurs in the Geraldton Sandplains bioregion of Western Australia. ^[2]

Conservation status

This species of Ptilotus is listed as "Priority One" by the Government of Western Australia Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, ^[2] meaning that it is known from only one or a few locations where it is potentially at risk. ^[6]

See also

• List of Ptilotus species

References

1. "Ptilotus chortophytus". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 15 March 2025.
2. "Ptilotus chortophytus". FloraBase . Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
3. "Trichinium chortophytum". Australian Plant Name Index. Retrieved 15 March 2025.
4. Diels, Ludwig; Pritzel, Ernst Georg (1904). "Fragmenta Phytographiae Australiae occidentalis. Beitrage zur Kenntnis der Pflanzen Westaustraliens, ihrer Verbreitung und ihrer Lebensverhaltnisse". Botanische Jahrbücher für Systematik, Pflanzengeschichte und Pflanzengeographie. 35 (2–3): 192–193. Retrieved 15 March 2025.
5. George, Alex; Sharr, Francis (2021). Western Australian Plant Names and Their Meanings (3rd ed.). Kardinya, WA: Four Gables Press. p. 162. ISBN   9780958034180.
6. "Conservation codes for Western Australian Flora and Fauna" (PDF). Government of Western Australia Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions. Retrieved 15 March 2025.