Ptilotus stipitatus
| Ptilotus stipitatus | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Embryophytes |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Order: | Caryophyllales |
| Family: | Amaranthaceae |
| Genus: | Ptilotus |
| Species: | P. stipitatus |
| Binomial name | |
| Ptilotus stipitatus Benl[1] | |
Ptilotus stipitatus is a species of flowering plant of the family Amaranthaceae and is endemic to northern inland Western Australia. It is an erect, branched shrub with almost glabrous stems, narrowly egg-shaped leaves and solitary spikes of magenta or red flowers.
Description
Ptilotus stipitatus is an erect, branched shrub that typically grows to a height of 20–60 cm (7.9–23.6 in), its stems mostly glabrous and more or less covered with a powdery bloom when young. Its leaves are mostly narrowly lance-shaped, 5–35 mm (0.20–1.38 in) long and 1.5–7 mm (0.059–0.276 in) wide tapering to an undefined petiole. The flowers are borne in a magenta or red spike on the ends of branches, the spikes 12–18 mm (0.47–0.71 in) long and 20–22 mm (0.79–0.87 in) wide with about 40 flowers. The bracts are egg-shaped, 6.3–7.0 mm (0.25–0.28 in) long and 2.7–3.2 mm (0.11–0.13 in) wide and the bracteoles broadly egg-shaped, 4.5–5.3 mm (0.18–0.21 in) long and 3.3–3.8 mm (0.13–0.15 in) wide. The tepals are lance-shaped, the outer tepals 9.5–11 mm (0.37–0.43 in) long, and the inner tepals 9–10.3 mm (0.35–0.41 in) long and there are five stamens. The style is thread-like, 2.7–3.4 mm (0.11–0.13 in) long and fixed to the side of the club-shaped ovary, 3.0–4.7 mm (0.12–0.19 in) long. The seeds are glossy black and about 1.3 mm (0.051 in) long.[2][3]
Taxonomy
Ptilotus stipitatus was first formally described in 1980 by Gerhard Benl in the journal Nuytsia from specimens collected 5 mi (8.0 km) north of Jigalong by Robert Dunlop Royce in 1947.[2][4] The specific epithet (stipitatus) means stipitate, referring to the ovary.[5]
Distribution and habitat
This species of Ptilotus grows in sandy soil on sand dunes in the Gascoyne, Gibson Desert, Great Victoria Desert and Little Sandy Desert bioregions of inland northern Western Australia.[3]
Conservation status
Ptilotus stipitatus is listed as 'not threatened' by the Government of Western Australia Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.[3]
References
- ↑ "Ptilotus stipitatus". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 12 July 2026.
- 1 2 Benl, Gerhard (1980). "Five new taxa of Ptilotus (Amaranthaceae) from Western Australia". Nuytsia. 3 (2): 165–169. Retrieved 12 July 2026.
- 1 2 3 "Ptilotus stipitatus". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
- ↑ "Ptilotus stipitatus". APNI. Retrieved 12 July 2026.
- ↑ George, Alex S.; Sharr, Francis A. (2023). Western Australian Plant Names and Their Meanings - A Glossary (fifth ed.). Kardinya: Four Gables Press. p. 325. ISBN 9780645629538.