Skip to main content

Service Notice

The Western Australian Herbarium’s collections management system and census were set to read-only mode on 1 October 2025. Taxonomic updates published since this time are not being reflected in Florabase, herbarium collections, or Western Australia’s taxonomic names census (Nomos). Conservation listings displayed on Florabase may also be out of date. Please refer to DBCA’s Threatened species and communities webpage for the most recent Threatened and Priority Flora List, noting that recent taxonomic updates are similarly not included. Our database migration is moving to a staging phase. We thank you for your patience as we ensure the integrity of our biodiversity data, develop new workflows, and train staff to use the new systems. Please reach out to us if you have any questions or concerns.

The notice period started at 12:00 pm on Wednesday, 1 October 2025 +08:00 and will end at 12:00 pm on Friday, 1 January 2027 +08:00.

Advanced Search

Ptilotus clementii (Farmar) Benl
Tassel Top

Reference
Mitt.Bot.Staatssamml.München 2:405-406 (1958)
Conservation Code
Not threatened
Naturalised Status
Native to Western Australia
Name Status
Current

Erect to spreading annual, herb, 0.3-1 m high, leaves lanceolate-elliptic, 15-60 mm long, 4-13 mm wide; spike green, ovoid-cylindrical, nodding, 30-80 mm long, 35-53 mm wide; bract 7.5-10.5 mm long; bracteole 6.6-10 mm long; tepals 18-23 mm long; 5 fertile stamens; ovary glabrous; style, slightly sigmoid, 11.6-18 mm long, centrally fixed to ovary. Fl. green-cream-white, Mar to Nov. Sand, stony clay, laterite. Rocky hills, limestone ridges, undulating plains.

Amanda Spooner, Descriptive Catalogue, 5 August 2008
Image

Scientific Description

Perennial herbs or annuals, stems several, more or less erect, persistently hairy, with nodose hairs. Leaves present, 15-60 mm long, 4-13 mm wide, persistently hairy, with nodose hairs; basal rosette present; cauline leaves alternate. Spikes green, ovoid or cylindrical, solitary, with densely arranged flowers. Bracts 7.5-10.5 mm long, colourless, hairy, awned or mucronate, with a prominent midrib. Bracteoles 6.6-10 mm long, colourless, hairy, awned or mucronate, with a prominent midrib. Outer tepals 18-23 mm long, entire. Inner tepals 17-22 mm long, glabrous within. Style 11.6-18 mm long, straight or sigmoid, centrally fixed to ovary. Seeds (2.1-)2.2-2.3(-2.4) mm long, dull, orange or pale brown. Distribution: Northern and Eremaean Botanical Region; IBRA regions: Dampierland, Ord Victoria Plains.

R. Davis, 30 April 2019

Distribution

IBRA Regions
Carnarvon, Central Ranges, Dampierland, Gascoyne, Gibson Desert, Great Sandy Desert, Great Victoria Desert, Little Sandy Desert, Ord Victoria Plain, Pilbara, Tanami.
IBRA Subregions
Ashburton, Cape Range, Carnegie, Central, Chichester, Dune Field, Fitzroy Trough, Fortescue, Hamersley, Lateritic Plain, Mackay, Mann-Musgrave Block, Pindanland, Purnululu, Roebourne, Rudall, South Kimberley Interzone, Tanami Desert, Trainor.
IMCRA Regions
Ningaloo.
Local Government Areas (LGAs)
Ashburton, Broome, Derby-West Kimberley, East Pilbara, Exmouth, Halls Creek, Karratha, Laverton, Meekatharra, Ngaanyatjarraku, Port Hedland, Upper Gascoyne, Wiluna.