Ptilotus polystachyus

Ptilotus polystachyus F.Muell.

Ptilotus polystachyus is a member of the Amaranthaceae family and is native to mainland Australia. It is an erect annual or short-lived perennial herb found in New South Wales, Northern Territory, Queensland, South Australia, and Western Australia. The plant is known by common names such as long tails, Prince of Wales feather, bottle-washers, and long pussy-tails. It was first described in 1868 by F.Muell.

Description

Ptilotus polystachyus has linear to narrowly elliptic or lance-shaped leaves and cylindrical spikes of greenish yellow or dull purplish-brown flowers. It is distributed across several Australian states and is characterized by its herbaceous growth form. The species is part of the genus Ptilotus and is recognized for its distinctive floral structure.