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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 Conservation listings displayed on Florabase may also be out of date.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.

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Ptilotus humilis (Nees) F.Muell.

Reference
Fragm. (Mueller) 6:229 (1868)
Conservation Code
Not threatened
Naturalised Status
Native to Western Australia
Name Status
Current

Annual, herb, 0.01-0.06 m high. Fl. green-white, Sep to Nov. Sandy soils, often over granite.

Amanda Spooner, Descriptive Catalogue, 31 August 1999
Image

Scientific Description

Annuals, stems several, more or less prostrate, glabrescent or glabrous, with nodose hairs. Leaves present, 3-70 mm long, 1-12 mm wide, glabrescent or glabrous, with nodose hairs; basal rosette present; cauline leaves alternate. Spikes green or white, ovoid or cylindrical, solitary or clustered, with densely arranged flowers. Bracts (3.5-)3.7-5.5 mm long, colourless, glabrous, awned or mucronate, with an obscure midrib. Bracteoles (3.5-)3.7-5.2 mm long, colourless, glabrous, awned or mucronate, with an obscure midrib. Outer tepals 5-7.5(-7.7) mm long, not entire. Inner tepals 5-7.7 mm long, with a basal tuft of hairs on inner face. Style 0.4 mm long, straight, centrally fixed to ovary. Seeds 1-1.2(-1.3) mm long, dull, orange or pale brown. Distribution: South West and Eremaean Botanical Region; IBRA regions: Coolgardie, Murchison.

R. Davis, 30 April 2019

Distribution

IBRA Regions
Avon Wheatbelt, Coolgardie, Esperance Plains, Geraldton Sandplains, Jarrah Forest, Mallee, Swan Coastal Plain.
IBRA Subregions
Dandaragan Plateau, Eastern Mallee, Fitzgerald, Geraldton Hills, Katanning, Lesueur Sandplain, Merredin, Northern Jarrah Forest, Perth, Recherche, Southern Cross, Southern Jarrah Forest, Western Mallee.
Local Government Areas (LGAs)
Beverley, Bruce Rock, Chapman Valley, Chittering, Coolgardie, Coorow, Cunderdin, Dalwallinu, Dandaragan, Dowerin, Dumbleyung, Esperance, Gnowangerup, Goomalling, Greater Geraldton, Jerramungup, Kellerberrin, Kent, Kondinin, Lake Grace, Merredin, Mingenew, Moora, Morawa, Mount Marshall, Narembeen, Narrogin, Northam, Northampton, Perenjori, Pingelly, Plantagenet, Quairading, Ravensthorpe, Victoria Plains, Wagin, Wanneroo, West Arthur, Westonia, Wickepin, Williams, Wongan-Ballidu, Woodanilling, Yilgarn, York.