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Ptilotus conicus R.Br.

Reference
Prodr. 415 (1810)
Conservation Code
Not threatened
Naturalised Status
Native to Western Australia
Name Status
Current

Erect annual, herb, 0.1-0.7 m high, leaves narrowly linear, 4-75 mm long, 0.5-10 mm wide; spike purple-pink, orange tinge, cylindrical-orbicular, 7-30 mm long, 10-20 mm wide; bract 2.3-4.6 mm long; bracteole 2.8-5.3 mm long; tepals 4.8-8 mm long; 5 Fertile stamens; ovary glabrous; style straight-slightly sigmoid, 2.3-3.3 mm long, centrally fixed to ovary. Fl. pink-red-purple/yellow-orange-red, Jan to Jun. Laterite, sand, clay. Rocky sandstone outcrops, coastal areas, plateaus.

Amanda Spooner, Descriptive Catalogue, 5 August 2008

Scientific Description

Annuals, stems single or several, more or less erect, glabrous. Leaves present, 4-75 mm long, 0.5-10 mm wide, glabrous; basal rosette absent; cauline leaves alternate. Spikes pink, magenta or red, ovoid or cylindrical, solitary or clustered, with densely arranged flowers. Bracts (2.3-)2.5-4(-4.6) mm long, colourless, hairy, awned or mucronate, with a prominent midrib. Bracteoles (2.8-)3-4.5(-5.3) mm long, colourless, hairy, awned or mucronate, with a prominent midrib. Outer tepals (4.5-)5.5-7.5(-7.8) mm long, entire. Inner tepals (4.5-)5.5-7.5(-8) mm long, with a basal tuft of hairs on inner face. Style (2.3-)2.5-3.2(-3.3) mm long, curved or straight, centrally fixed to ovary. Seeds (1.3-)1.4-1.5(-1.7) mm long, glossy, black. Distribution: Northern Botanical Region; IBRA regions: Northern Kimberley, Ord Victoria Plains.

R. Davis, 30 April 2019

Distribution

IBRA Regions
Dampierland, Northern Kimberley.
IBRA Subregions
Berkeley, Fitzroy Trough, Mitchell.
IMCRA Regions
Kimberley.
Local Government Areas (LGAs)
Derby-West Kimberley, Wyndham-East Kimberley.