Ptilotus obovatus
(Gaudich.) F.Muell.Weakly shrubby perennial to c. 1 m high and wide. Stems and leaves appearing grey or whitish from a dense stellate indumentum. Leaves obovate, 1–4 cm long, 4–15 mm wide, scattered along branches, the lower ones petiolate. Spikes hemispherical to shortly cylindric, 1–2.5 cm long, 1.5–2 cm diam., dense, white or pink; bract ovate, 2–3 mm long, obtuse or broadly acute, brown, pubescent; bracteoles broadly lanceolate, acute, c. 1 mm longer than bract; perianth 7–10 mm long; tepals free almost to base, outer surface densely covered with long silky hairs, inner surface glabrous; fertile stamens 3 or 4; ovary subsessile, pubescent about the apex, style eccentric. Flowers mainly Jun.–Nov.
MuM, RobP, GGr. All mainland States. Known in Victoria by 2 or 3 collections (all pre-1900) labelled ‘Wimmera’, ‘Mallee district’ and ‘Murray River’, a 1995 collection from Robinvale, and 3 recent collections from Bambill South, and Yarrara Flora and Fauna Reserve.
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