Ptilotus decalvatus

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

Ptilotus decalvatus is a species of flowering plant in the family Amaranthaceae and is endemic to the far north of Western Australia. It is an erect annual herb, with narrowly linear to almost thread-like leaves, and oval to cylindrical spikes of 30 to 80 dark mauve to reddish flowers.

Contents

Description

Ptilotus decalvatus is an erect annual herb up to 50 cm (20 in) tall, its young branches and branchlets covered with woolly white hairs. The leaves are arranged in the lower part of the stems, narrowly linear to almost thread-like, up to 45 mm (1.8 in) long and 0.5–0.8 mm (0.020–0.031 in) wide. There are no leaves at the base of the plant. The flowers are dark mauve to reddish and arranged in compact oval to cylindrical spikes 15–35 mm (0.59–1.38 in) long, each spike with 30 to 80 flowers on a pedicel about 0.5 mm (0.020 in) long. The tepals are about 4.2 mm (0.17 in) long, the outer tepals boat-shaped and the inner tepals slightly broader and flatter, and the style is 1.2 mm (0.047 in) long. Flowering occurs from May to July and the seeds are glossy brown, 1.2–1.3 mm (0.047–0.051 in) long. [2] [3]

Taxonomy

Ptilotus decalvatus was first formally described in 1979 by Gerhard Benl in the journal Nuytsia from specimens collected on Byam Martin Island in the Bonaparte Archipelago in 1973. [2] [4] The specific epithet (decalvatus) means 'become bald', referring to the tepals that soon become glabrous. [5]

Distribution and habitat

Ptilotus decalvatus grows on sandy soil in gullies in the Dampierland and Northern Kimberley bioregions of far northern Western Australia. [2] [3]

Conservation status

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

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Ptilotus decalvatus". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 9 May 2025.
  2. 1 2 3 Benl, Gerhard (1979). "Three new species of Ptilotus (Amaranthaceae) from Western Australia". Nuytsia. 2 (6): 349–353. Retrieved 9 May 2025.
  3. 1 2 3 "Ptilotus decalvatus". FloraBase . Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
  4. ↑ "Ptilotus decalvatus". Australian Plant Name Index. Retrieved 9 May 2025.
  5. ↑ George, Alex; Sharr, Francis (2021). Western Australian Plant Names and Their Meanings (3rd ed.). Kardinya, WA: Four Gables Press. p. 179. ISBN   9780958034180.
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