Citation: Poiret, Encycl. Suppl. 4:620 (1816).

Synonymy: Trichinium spathulatum R. Br., Prod. Fl. Nov. Holl. 415 ( 1810); T. m ucronatum Nees in Lehm., Pl. Preiss. 1:628 (1845). , Ptilotus spathulatus, Trichinium mucronatum

Common name: Pussytails, cats paws (in Tas.).

Description:
Low perennials with a very stout fusi- to rapiform rhizome to 24 X 1.8 cm, and with up to 30 procumbent stems to c. 40 cm long, radiating from a flat rosette, rarely branched at the apex; leaves somewhat fleshy, the radical ones spathulate-obovate, ovate-deltoid or lanceolate, long-petiolate, to 10 cm and more long, subglabrous like the stem in lower parts, stem-leaves smaller, more acute, subsessile, the uppermost supporting the spikes.

Spikes upturned, solitary or clustered, ovoid becoming cylindrical, dense-flowered; bract (brownish to dark-brown) and bracteoles (more or less transparent) 3.5-10 mm long; perianth 7.5-14 mm long, soft-plumose with silky yellow hairs; perianth-segments greenish, the tips pink soon fading to yellow, unbearded inside, inner segments with some marginal crisp hairs; stamens all fertile or one (rarely 2 or 3) sterile, shortly united into a small adnate cup; ovary stalked, usually pilose at the top with two rows of hairlets, the stipe c. 1.5 mm, somewhat hairy, the style 2.2 mm long, lateral, hirsute at the base.

Distribution:  S.Aust.: GT, FR, EA, EP, NL, MU, YP, SL, KI, SE. Conservation status: native Flowering time: No flowering time is available

SA Distribution Map based on current data relating to specimens held in the State Herbarium of South Australia

Biology: No text

Author: Not yet available