Ptilotus sessilifolius
| Ptilotus sessilifolius | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Near Wilcannia | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Embryophytes |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Order: | Caryophyllales |
| Family: | Amaranthaceae |
| Genus: | Ptilotus |
| Species: | P. sessilifolius |
| Binomial name | |
| Ptilotus sessilifolius | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
|
List
| |
Ptilotus sessilifolius, commonly known as silver-tails or crimson foxtail,[2] is a flowering plant in the Amaranthaceae family and is endemic to mostly inland areas of continental Australia. It is an erect, shrubby perennial plant with densely hairy stems, egg-shaped leaves with the narrower end towards the base, and spherical or oval spikes of pinkish flowers.
Description
Ptilotus sessilifolius is a shrubby perennial herb or shrub that typically grows to a height of up to 50 cm (20 in) and has stems densely covered with woolly hairs. The leaves are egg-shaped with the narrower end towards the base, 10–50 mm (0.39–1.97 in) wide and up to 40 mm (1.6 in) wide, the leaves at the base petiolate, the stem leaves only sparingly so. The flowers are pinkish and arranged in spherical or oval heads up to 30 mm (1.2 in) in diameter. The bracts are egg-shaped or round, 3–4 mm (0.12–0.16 in) long and the bracteoles broadly elliptic, 1–2 mm (0.039–0.079 in) longer than the bracts. The tepals are fused at the base for about 1.5 mm (0.059 in), the outer surface with long, silky hairs. There are three fertile stamens and two staminodes, the ovary is glabrous and has a short stalk. Flowering mainly occurs from October to March and the fruit is 2.0–3.5 mm (0.079–0.138 in) long and 1.5–2.5 mm (0.059–0.098 in) wide.[2][3][4]
Taxonomy
This species was first formally described in 1838 by John Lindley who gave it the name Trichinium sessilifolium in Thomas Mitchell's Three Expeditions into the interior of Eastern Australia.[5][6] In 1990, Gerhard Benl transferred the species to Ptilotus as P. sessilifolium in the journal Mitteilungen der Botanischen Staatssammlung Munchen.[7] The specific epithet (sessilifolius) means 'sessile-leaved'.[8]
Distribution and habitat
Silver-tails occurs in every mainland state of mainland Australia, and in the Northern Territory. It grows on ranges, hills, rises and on dunefields, sometimes near intermittent watercourses in Western Australia[9] the Northern Territory,[3] South Australia,[10] Queensland,[11] New South Wales[2] and Victoria.[4]
References
- 1 2 "Ptilotus sessilifolius". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 5 July 2026.
- 1 2 3 " Ptilotus sessilifolius". Royal Botanic Garden, Sydney. Retrieved 5 July 2026.
- 1 2 "Ptilotus sessilifolius ". Northern Territory Government. Retrieved 5 July 2026.
- 1 2 Messina, Andre; Stajsic, Val. "Ptilotus sessilifolius". Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria. Retrieved 5 July 2026.
- ↑ "Trichinium sessilifolium". APNI. Retrieved 5 July 2026.
- ↑ Lindley, John (1838). Mitchell, Thomas (ed.). Three Expeditions into the interior of Eastern Australia. New Bond Street, London: T & W Boone. p. 13. Retrieved 5 July 2026.
- ↑ "Ptilotus sessilifolius". APNI. Retrieved 5 July 2026.
- ↑ George, Alex S.; Sharr, Francis A. (2023). Western Australian Plant Names and Their Meanings - A Glossary (fifth ed.). Kardinya: Four Gables Press. pp. 317–318. ISBN 9780645629538.
- ↑ "Ptilotus sessilifolius". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
- ↑ "Ptilotus sessilifolius". Seeds of South Australia. Retrieved 5 July 2026.
- ↑ "Taxon - Ptilotus sessilifolius". Queensland Government WildNet. Retrieved 5 July 2026.