Ptilotus corymbosus
Ptilotus corymbosus is a species of flowering plant in the family Amaranthaceae and is endemic to northern Australia. It is a erect or open annual herb, with more or less glabrous stems and leaves, purple, pink or white oval or cylindrical spikes of flowers with five stamens.
Description
Ptilotus corymbosus is an erect or open annual herb that typically grows up to high, and has glabrous stems and leaves. The leaves on the stems are linear to lance-shaped, long and wide, but there are no leaves at the base of the plant. The flowers are purple, pink or white, borne in oval to cylindrical heads long and wide. There are bracts long with a prominent midrib, and similar bracteoles long, at the base of the flowers. The tepals are long with a tuft of hairs on the inner surface. There are five stamens and the style is straight, long. Flowering occurs from March to July and the seeds are long and glossy brown.
Taxonomy
Ptilotus corymbosus was first formally described in 1810 by Robert Brown in his Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae et Insulae Van Diemen. The specific epithet means 'corymbose'.
Distribution and habitat
This species of Ptilotus grows in loam, sand or clay on low ridges in the Central Kimberley, Dampierland, Northern Kimberley, Ord Victoria Plain, Victoria Bonaparte bioregions of Western Australia, widespread in the north of the Northern Territory, and in the Lawn Hill area of north-west Queensland.
Conservation status
Ptilotus corymbosus is listed as "not threatened" by the Government of Western Australia Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, and as of "least concern" under the Northern Territory Parks and [Wildlife Conservation Act] and the Queensland Government Nature [Conservation Act 1992].