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The Western Australian Herbarium’s collections management system, WAHerb, and DBCA’s flora taxonomic names application, WACensus, have been set to read-only mode since 1 October 2025. Recent taxonomic changes are not currently being reflected in Florabase, herbarium collections, or the census. The project team is now conducting testing of the migrated data, and a further update will be provided by the end of the financial year (1 July). Please reach out to us if you have any questions or concerns.

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Ptilotus macrocephalus (R.Br.) Poir.
Featherheads

This name is not current. Find out more information on related names.

Reference
Lam., Encycl. Suppl. 4:620 (1816)
Conservation Code
Not threatened
Naturalised Status
Native to Western Australia
Name Status
Not Current

Erect annual, herb, 0.15-1.3 m high. Fl. green-white, Apr to Oct. Loamy & clayey soils. Periodically flooded areas.

Grazyna Paczkowska, Descriptive Catalogue, 8 May 1996
Image

Scientific Description

Annuals, stems several, more or less erect, glabrescent or glabrous, with nodose hairs. Leaves present, 10-160 mm long, 2-15 mm wide, glabrescent or glabrous, with nodose hairs; basal rosette absent; cauline leaves alternate. Spikes green, white or pink, ovoid or cylindrical, solitary, with densely arranged flowers. Bracts 4.8-6 mm long, colourless, glabrous, awned or mucronate, with a prominent midrib. Bracteoles 4.6-5.8 mm long, colourless, glabrous, awned or mucronate, with a prominent midrib. Outer tepals 14.8-19 mm long, entire. Inner tepals 14.8-18.8 mm long, with a basal tuft of hairs on inner face. Style 13-18 mm long, straight, obliquely fixed to ovary. Distribution: South West, Northern and Eremaean Botanical Region; IBRA regions: Dampierland, Ord Victoria Plains.