Ptilotus schwartzii
| Ptilotus schwartzii | |
|---|---|
 | |
| South of Winton | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Order: | Caryophyllales |
| Family: | Amaranthaceae |
| Genus: | Ptilotus |
| Species: | P. schwartzii |
| Binomial name | |
| Ptilotus schwartzii | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
|
Ptilotus fraseri var. schwartzii F.Muell. | |
Ptilotus schwartzii, commonly known as horse mulla mulla,[2] is an erect, perennial herb or shrub in the Amaranthaceae family and is endemic to mostly inland areas of Australia. It usually has several more or less erect, glabrous stems, glabrous stem leaves and pink spikes of densely arranged flowers.
Description
[edit]Ptilotus schwartzii is perennial herb or shrub that typically grows to a height of 0.2–1 m (7.9 in – 3 ft 3.4 in) and has slender, glaucous irregularly spreading stems. The leaves are scattered along the stems, glabrous, sometimes glaucous, linear to narrowly elliptic, 8–25 mm (0.31–0.98 in) long and 0.8–1 mm (0.031–0.039 in) wide, and sometimes leafless. The flowers are densely arranged in pink, oval, narrowly cylindrical or hemispherical spikes up to 40 mm (1.6 in) long with up to 25 flowers. The bracts are 2.5–4.2 mm (0.098–0.165 in) long and the bracteoles 2.4–4.3 mm (0.094–0.169 in) long. The perianth is 5–7 mm (0.20–0.28 in) long, white or grey and tinged with pink or purple, the outer tepals 7.6–8.1 mm (0.30–0.32 in) long, the inner tepals 7.1–7.9 mm (0.28–0.31 in) long. The style is straight, 2.5–3.0 mm (0.098–0.118 in) long and fixed to the centre of the ovary. Flowering occurs from March to October and the seeds are glossy brown, 1.4–1.5 mm (0.055–0.059 in) long.[2][3][4]
Taxonomy
[edit]This species was first formally described in 1888 by Ferdinand von Mueller who gave it the name Ptilotus fraseri var. schwartzii, in the Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales, from a specimen collected near the MacDonnell Ranges by the "Reverend Mr Schwartz".[5][6] In 1889, Ralph Tate raised the subspecies to species rank with the name Ptilotus schwartzii.[7]
Distribution and habitat
[edit]Horse mulla mulla is widespread in Western Australia,[3] South Australia,[2] the Northern Territory,[4] and Queensland,[2] where it grows on rocky ranges, hills and sandplains in sandy clay loam.[2]
References
[edit]- 1 2 "Ptilotus schwartzii". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 8 June 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "Ptilotus schwartzii". Flora SA. Board of Botanic Gardens and State Herbarium: Adelaide. Retrieved 9 June 2026.
- 1 2 "Ptilotus schwartzii". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
- 1 2 "Ptilotus schwartzii". Northern Territory Government. Retrieved 9 June 2026.
- ↑ "Ptilotus fraseri var. schwartzii". APNI. Retrieved 9 June 2026.
- ↑ Mueller, Ferdinand von (1888). "Descriptions of two hitherto unrecorded west Australian plants". Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales. 3 (Series 2): 163. Retrieved 9 June 2026.
- ↑ "Ptilotus schwartzii". APNI. Retrieved 9 June 2026.