Ptilotus seminudus
(J.M.Black) J.M.Black Rabbit TailsDeeply taprooted herb, with several prostrate, simple branches to c. 30 cm long. Stems pubescent. Basal leaves obovate to oblanceolate, 5–12 cm long, 8–25 mm wide, glabrous except sometimes near base; stem leaves similar but smaller and more acute. Spike upturned, hemispherical to ovoid, 2–5 cm long, 2.5–3.5 cm diam., very dense, greyish or yellowish; bract narrowly ovate, 8–11 mm long, brown; bracteoles broad-ovate, as long as or slightly longer than bract, straw-coloured or brown-tipped; perianth c. 15 mm long; tepals united into a narrow basal cup c. 1.5 mm long, otherwise free, outer surface densely silky-plumose in the upper three-quarters to within 2 mm of apex, glabrous toward the base (except along margins and over the basal cup), inner surface glabrous except for some long silky hairs at base; fertile stamens 2; ovary shortly stipitate, glabrous or with few short fine hairs at apex, style eccentric. Flowers mainly Sep.–Nov.
LoM, MuM, RobP, MuF. Also WA, SA, NSW. Widespread through north-western Victorian mallee areas but rarely common, occurring on sandy dunes, and on plains with heavier red sandy loam soils.
Walsh, N.G. (1996). Amaranthaceae. In: Walsh, N.G.; Entwisle, T.J., Flora of Victoria Vol. 3, Dicotyledons Winteraceae to Myrtaceae, pp. 199–215. Inkata Press, Melbourne.
Spinning
