Ptilotus capensis


Ptilotus capensis is a species of flowering plant in the family Amaranthaceae and is endemic to Queensland. It is an erect perennial herb or shrub with linear leaves and spikes of dull green, hairy flowers.

Description

Ptilotus capensis is an erect perennial herb or shrub that typically grows up to about high with linear leaves. The flowers are dull green, red-streaked when fresh, and densely arranged in spikes mostly long and wide. The bracts are narrowly lance-shaped, long and the bracteoles are long. The tepals are linear up to long, there are one or two fertile stamens and several staminodes, and the style is about long.

Taxonomy

This species was first formally described in 1984 by Gerhard Benl who gave it the name Ptilotus distans subsp. capensis in the journal Austrobaileya from specimens collected on Thursday Island by Frederick Manson Bailey in 1897. In 2008, Anthony Bean raised the subspecies to species status as Ptilotus capensis in the journal Telopea.

Distribution

Ptilotus capensis grows in open woodland on Torres Strait Islands and on Cape York Peninsula as far south as Kidston.

Conservation status

This species of Ptilotus is listed as "not threatened" under the Queensland Government Nature Conservation Act 1992.