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Ptilotus astrolasius F.Muell.

Reference
Fragm. (Mueller) 6:233-234 (1868)
Conservation Code
Not threatened
Naturalised Status
Native to Western Australia
Name Status
Current

Compact, perennial shrub, 0.2-0.8 m high, leaves ovate-obovate, grey-green, 5-45 mm long, 3-20 mm wide; spikes green-white to pink or yellow ovoid-cylindrical or orbicular, 5-22 mm long, 7-18 mm wide; bract 2-3.4 mm long; bracteoles 2.5-4 mm long; tepals 4-7.6 mm long; 5 fertile stamens; ovary glabrous; style straight, 1.7-3 mm long, centrally fixed to ovary. Fl. green-white/yellow-red/purple, Mar to May or Jul to Oct.

Amanda Spooner, Descriptive Catalogue, 27 May 2008

Scientific Description

Shrubs or perennial herbs, stems single, more or less erect, persistently hairy, with verticillate or stellate hairs. Leaves present, 5-45 mm long, 3-20 mm wide, persistently hairy or glabrescent, with dendritic or stellate hairs; basal rosette absent; cauline leaves alternate. Spikes green, ovoid or spherical, solitary or clustered, with densely arranged flowers. Bracts 2-3.4 mm long, colourless, hairy, awned or mucronate, with a prominent midrib. Bracteoles 2.5-3.6 mm long, colourless, hairy, awned or mucronate, with a prominent midrib. Outer tepals 4.4-5.3 mm long, entire. Inner tepals 4.3-4.9 mm long, with a basal tuft of hairs on inner face. Style 1.7 mm long, straight, centrally fixed to ovary. Seeds 1.6 mm long, glossy, brown. Distribution: Northern and Eremaean Botanical Region; IBRA regions: Dampierland, Ord Victoria Plains.

R. Davis, 30 April 2019

Distribution

IBRA Regions
Carnarvon, Central Kimberley, Dampierland, Gascoyne, Gibson Desert, Great Sandy Desert, Great Victoria Desert, Little Sandy Desert, Ord Victoria Plain, Pilbara, Tanami.
IBRA Subregions
Ashburton, Augustus, Cape Range, Central, Chichester, Fortescue, Hamersley, Hart, Lateritic Plain, Mackay, McLarty, Pindanland, Roebourne, Rudall, South Kimberley Interzone, Tanami Desert, Trainor, Wooramel.
IMCRA Regions
Ningaloo.
Local Government Areas (LGAs)
Ashburton, Broome, Carnarvon, East Pilbara, Exmouth, Halls Creek, Karratha, Laverton, Meekatharra, Ngaanyatjarraku, Port Hedland, Upper Gascoyne, Wiluna.