Perennial herb, erect to spreading, to 150 cm high, dioecious, covered with densely matted dendritic hairs on stems and leaves; leaves indistinctly petiolate, lanceolate or narrowly elliptic to oblanceolate or spathulate, 15–77 × 4–14 (–24) mm, hairs dense or sparse above. Inflorescence of spikes in dense terminal panicles; spikes 10–85 (–135) × 4–8 mm; bracts ovate, up to 1.7 mm long, hairy; bracteoles very broadly ovate, up to 2.5 mm long, ± hairy at the apex, white to pink; male flowers: outer 2 tepals ovate, up to 2.25 mm long, filaments delicate, anthers subequal to tepals, ovary small, style very short, stigmas rudimentary n.v. (fide Townsend 1985); female flowers: tepals, up to 3 mm long, outer 2 tepals obovate, hairy at base, inner 3 tepals narrowly elliptic to narrowly oblong, completely hairy, stamens rudimentary, anthers absent, style including stigmas up to 1.6 mm long, stigmas papillose. Fruit up to 1 mm long; seed 0.7–1 mm long. Kapok bush.

S.A.: *LE; *W.A.; *N.T.; *Qld; *N.S.W. Widespread in the drier parts of the tropics and subtropics from western Africa across the Middle East to Burma. A single record from a tip at Oodnadatta in 1977. Commonly found on roadsides and disturbed areas in other states. Flowers: Oct. (Apr. –Nov. in other states).

The species was introduced in the 1880s to help regenerate rangeland areas. Only female plants occur in Australia. Even so, seeds are still produced and the plants are assumed to be apomictic (Khan et al. 1970). — R.M. Barker (AD).

Annual or ephemeral herbs, prostrate or ascending; stems glabrous or pubescent; leaves oblong to narrowly obovate, 10–50 mm long, glabrous or sparsely tomentose. Inflorescence of sessile globular or ovoid spikes, 5–10 mm long, sometimes clustered; rhachis woolly; bracts and bracteoles narrow, acute, c. 1 mm long; tepals narrowly ovate, 2.5–4 mm long, equal, acute, densely woolly in the lower half, base and midrib hardened; stamens 3; staminodes 2; pseudostaminodes 0; style very short. Fruit obovate, c. 1.5 mm long, shorter than tepals, apex rounded or emarginate, margins thickened. Narrow-leaved joyweed.

S.A.: NW, LE, EA; W.A.; N.T.; Qld; N.S.W. Banks of ephemeral creeks on mulga flats, gibber plains, inter-dune swales or springs. Flowers: June–Nov., Jan. and Apr.

This species is very variable across its range especially with respect to tepal size, hairiness and leaf width and is currently under review.

Annual, ephemeral or perennial herbs, prostrate or ascending to erect; stems glabrous or with hairs restricted to 2 decurrent lines on young stems and the nodes; leaves linear to linear-oblong or narrowly elliptic, 20–60 × 2–8 mm, acute or obtuse, entire or minutely denticulate, glabrous or sparsely hairy on the margins and midrib. Inflorescence of sessile globular to oblong spikes, solitary or clustered; rhachis glabrous or hairy; spike clusters 5–10 mm wide; bracts and bracteoles narrowly ovate, c. 1–2 mm long, acuminate; tepals narrowly ovate to ovate, 2–3 mm long, equal, acute or shortly acuminate, glabrous; stamens 3; staminodes 2; pseudostaminodes 0; stigma ± sessile. Fruit obovate, 1–1.5 mm long, shorter than tepals, obcordate. Lesser joyweed.

S.A.: NW, LE, GT, FR, EA, NL, MU, SL, KI, SE; W.A., N.T., Qld, N.S.W., Vic., Tas. On banks and in shallow water at the edge of freshwater rivers, creeks and swamps. Flowers: mainly Nov.–Apr. but also throughout the year.

This species is very variable across its range and is currently under review. Some specimens from south-eastern S.A. may also be the closely related Alternanthera sp. A (Jacobs & Lapinpuro 1990), but further investigation is required to establish this.

Ephemeral herbs, prostrate or erect; stems pubescent; leaves ± sessile, elliptic or oblong to narrowly ovate, 10–25 × 6–10 mm, acute, pubescent to loosely hirsute. Inflorescence of sessile globose to ovoid spikes, 5–10 mm long, clustered; rhachis woolly; bracts and bracteoles ovate, 0.5–1 mm long, acute to acuminate; tepals oblong to narrowly ovate-oblong, 2–3 mm long, equal, acute to acuminate, glabrous, base thickened, midrib hardened; stamens 3; staminodes 2; pseudostaminodes 0; style c. 0.5 mm long. Fruit obovate, 1–1.5 mm long, shorter than tepals, rounded to truncate. Hairy joyweed, downy pigweed.

S.A.: NW, LE, GT, FR, MU; W.A.; N.T.; Qld; N.S.W. On seasonally flooded areas. Flowers: Jan.–June and Oct.

Annual or ephemeral herbs, decumbent or ascending to erect; stems to 30 (–100) cm high, often rooting at the nodes, hairy at the nodes and in 2 lines along the stems or becoming glabrous; leaves linear to oblong or narrowly elliptic, 20–80 × 3–8 mm, acute, entire or minutely denticulate, glabrous or very sparsely hairy. Inflorescence of sessile globular spikes, often densely clustered, rhachis hairy; spike clusters 10–20 mm wide; bracts and bracteoles narrowly ovate, 1–3 mm long, acute; tepals narrowly ovate, 4–5 mm long, equal, long-acuminate, glabrous; stamens 3; staminodes 2; pseudostaminodes 0; style very short. Fruit obovate, 1–1.5 mm long, shorter than tepals, obcordate. Common joyweed.

S.A.: NW, LE, GT, FR, MU; W.A.; N.T.; Qld; N.S.W.; Vic. Grows on banks and beds of creek and river channels and low lying areas that undergo periodic inundation in sandy or clay soils with Eucalyptus camaldulensis, E. microtheca or E. coolabah in open woodland often with an understorey of Muehlenbeckia florulenta (lignum) and/or chenopods. Flowers: throughout the year.

Ephemeral or perennial herbs, prostrate or ascending; stems and nodes densely hairy to glabrescent; leaves on petioles up to 5 mm long or sessile, obovate to broadly obovate or orbicular, 10–50 × 7–20 mm, obtuse or acute, mucronate, glabrous or hairy particularly on midnerve and margins. Inflorescence of sessile ovoid spikes, 8–10 mm long, clustered; rhachis ± hairy; bracts and bracteoles narrowly ovate, 3–5 mm long, cuspidate to aristate, pungent; tepals unequal, narrowly ovate to oblong or elliptic, margins entire to serrate; outer 3 tepals 3–6 mm long, small tufts of long or short hairs on the back near the base, longest 2 tepals acuminate, cuspidate to aristate, pungent, third outer tepal acute, mucronate to cuspidate; inner 2 tepals 0.2–3.2 mm long, acute, cuspidate, long dense hairs along midrib; stamens 5; staminodes 0; pseudostaminodes 5; style ± absent. Fruit globose, 0.5–1.5 mm long, shorter than tepals, rounded. Khaki weed.

S.A.: *NW, *LE, *GT, *FR, *EA, *EP, *NL, *MU, *YP, *SL, ?*KI; *W.A., *N.T., *Qld, *N.S.W., *Vic. Native to South America. A troublesome weed of lawns and disturbed areas; harmful to stock. Flowers: Dec.–May.

(Proclaimed S.A. plant.)

Annual herb, erect or prostrate, to 100 cm high, glabrous or almost so; stems rounded to angular, rigid, white; leaves on petioles 5–25 mm long, narrowly ovate, ovate to obovate or spathulate, (5–) 10–50 × 3–20 mm, obtuse to slightly emarginate. Inflorescence of axillary, few-flowered spikes to 10 mm long, mostly female flowers present; bracts and bracteoles narrowly ovate, 2.4–4 mm long, acuminate, shortly aristate, pungent, longer than tepals; tepals 3, narrowly ovate, 1–2 mm long, acute. Fruit a circumsissile capsule, globose, 1–2 mm long, about as long as tepals, rugose; seed lenticular, c. 1 mm diam., reddish-brown to black. Tumbleweed, stiff tumbleweed.

S.A.: *GT, *FR, *NL, *MU, *YP, *SL, *SE; *W.A.; *N.S.W.; *Vic.; *Tas. Native to North America, naturalised in South America, Eurasia, Africa and Australia. A weed of roadsides and disturbed areas. Flowers: Jan.–Apr. and June.

Erect annual herb to 150 cm high; stems ribbed, sparsely hairy; leaves on petioles 2–80 mm long, narrowly ovate to ovate or elliptic, 30–90 × 18–50 mm, obtuse, mucronate. Inflorescence of mainly terminal and axillary spikes to 20 cm long, often forming a panicle, pendulous, deep red or maroon (rarely greenish), male and female flowers present; bracts and bracteoles ovate, 2.5–3.5 mm long, longer than tepals, acuminate, aristate, pungent; tepals 5, 1.5–2.5 mm long; tepals of male flowers ovate or elliptic, acute or acuminate; tepals of female flowers obovate, obtuse, mucronate or shortly aristate. Fruit a circumscissile capsule, globose, 2–2.5 mm long, about equal to or slightly longer than tepals, smooth; seed lenticular, c. 1 mm long, reddish-black. Love-lies-bleeding, tassel flower.

S.A.: *LE, *FR, *EP, *NL, *MU, *YP, *SL; *W.A.; *N.T.?; *Qld; *N.S.W.; *Vic. (sparingly). Native to South America, now widespread and commonly cultivated as a garden ornamental. Occasionally found as a garden escape in disturbed areas, often after rain. Flowers: Jan.–Jul. and Sep.

Erect annual herb, up to 60 cm high; stems angular, sparsely glandular or multicellular hairy or becoming glabrous; leaves on petioles 2–20 (–35) mm long, elliptic or ovate, 6–35 (–55) × 4–17 (–25) mm, obtuse to emarginate, mucronate. Inflorescence of mainly axillary, globular clusters and sometimes erect terminal spikes to 60 mm long, greenish, male and female flowers present; bracts and bracteoles ovate, 1.2–1.8 mm long, shorter than the tepals, acuminate, mucronate; tepals 5; tepals of male flowers elliptic to narrowly obovate, 1.5–2 mm long, obtuse to acute, mucronate, margins membranous, glabrous, midnerve c. 0.1 mm wide; tepals of female flowers narrowly obovate-spathulate to obovate-spathulate or spathulate, 2–4 mm long, obtuse, mucronate, erect to recurved, margins membranous, glandular hairy along some or all of length, midnerve 0.6–1 mm wide, green; tepals at the fruiting stage becoming hardened in the lower part and often sigmoid in outline, dark green to brown or straw-coloured. Fruit an indehiscent utricle, ellipsoid, 1.5–3 mm long, shorter than tepals, slightly rugose, usually ribbed; ribs slightly raised, straight, longitudinal, slightly tuberculate; seed obovoid to broad-obovoid, 1.2–1.4 mm long, reddish-brown to black.

S.A.: NW, LE, FR; W.A.; N.T.; Qld. Grows in red sand in sandy or rocky ephemeral watercourses, sandy to clayey loam on creek banks and edges of permanent pools in eucalypt lined channels, Acacia shrubland, or open tussock grassland. It also occurs in areas of permanent watering, e.g. gardens. Flowers: Feb.–Aug. and Oct.

This species is similar to Amaranthus mitchellii and A. cuspidifolius and can often be found growing with A. cuspidifolius. Both these species though are distinguishable from A. centralis by having spathulate to broadly spathulate tepals in female flowers and rugose fruit that are either without ribs (A. cuspidifolius) or with prominent inflated undulate ribs (A. mitchellii).

Erect annual herb to 100 cm high; stems angled, glabrous or young stems and inflorescences sparsely hairy; leaves on petioles 15–140 mm long, ovate to elliptic, 35–160 (–210 non-S.A. specimens) × 20–70 (–90) mm, obtuse to acute or acuminate, ± mucronate. Inflorescence of mainly terminal and axillary spikes 7–12 mm wide, often forming dense open panicles to c. 300 mm long, erect, greenish but often tinged reddish, male and female flowers present; bracts and bracteoles ovate, 2–3 mm long, equal to or longer than tepals, acuminate, aristate, pungent; tepals 5, ±unequal, elliptic; tepals of male flowers 2–2.5 (–3) mm long, acuminate, mucronate to shortly aristate; tepals of female flowers 1.5–2 mm long, acute to acuminate, mucronate to shortly aristate. Fruit a circumsissile capsule, globose, c. 1.5 mm long, equal to or longer than tepals, smooth. Seed lenticular, 1–1.5 mm long, reddish or reddish-black. Red shank.

S.A.: *FR, *EA, *MU, *YP, *SL; *W.A; *N.S.W.; *Vic. (sparingly naturalised). Probably originated as a grain crop in southern Mexico or Guatemala but is now widely grown as a dye plant, ornamental and potherb in central America, Europe, China, India, SE Asia, and Africa. Uncommon weed mainly occurring spontaneously in gardens and disturbed areas. Flowers: Jan.–May, Jul. and Sep.

Erect or decumbent annual or ephemeral herb to 50 cm high, glabrous; leaves on petioles 2–35 mm long, oblong to elliptic or ovate, 5–40 × 3–12 mm, obtuse or emarginate, mucronate. Inflorescence of axillary clusters of predominantly female flowers; bract and bracteoles narrowly ovate or ovate, 1–2 mm long, shorter than tepals, acuminate, shortly aristate; tepals 5; tepals of male flowers ovate, c. 2 mm long, acute to acuminate; tepals of female flowers broadly spathulate, obovate-spathulate or rounded obtrullate-spathulate, 1.8–3 mm long, spreading to recurved, obtuse, shortly aristate. Fruit an indehiscent utricle, globose, 1–2 mm long, equal to or shorter than tepals, rugose; seed lenticular or obovoid, 0.8–1 mm long, reddish-brown or black.

S.A.: NW, LE, GT, FR, EA, EP; W.A.; N.T.; Qld; N.S.W. Grows on rocky (often granite) outcrops, hillsides and crevices and in creek lines in sandy to gravelly soil. Also found in areas of gypseous soils along drainage lines with other ephemerals. Flowers: Dec.–Oct.

This species is often confused with Amaranthus mitchellii. It differs by having rugose fruit that lack the defined inflated, wavy ribs of A. mitchellii. Also A. cuspidifolius can be found in rocky or sandy habitats compared to A. mitchellii which mostly occurs on river floodplains in grey, brown or black clays. Specimens apparently intermediate between Amaranthus cuspidifolius, A. mitchellii and A. cochleitepalus Domin have been seen. See notes under A. mitchellii for further details; A. cochleitepalus is not known from S.A. a,though it has been collected from near the S.A./N.T. border.

Prostrate to decumbent perennial herb; stems up to 20 cm high and c. 50 cm long, sparsely to densely pubescent; leaves on petioles 7–15 mm long, rhomboid-ovate, 5–40 × 3–25 mm wide, obtuse or acute. Inflorescence of dense or sometimes interrupted terminal spikes to 50 mm long and clusters in upper leaf axils, erect, green or light brownish; bracts and bracteoles oblong-ovate, 0.5–1 mm long, shorter than tepals, acute, mucronate; tepals 2 or 3, linear to oblong, narrowly obovate or spathulate, 1–2 mm long, acute or obtuse, mucronate. Fruit an indehiscent utricle, ellipsoid, 2–3 mm long, distinctly longer than tepals, smooth with 3 longitudinal veins; seed ellipsoid-obovoid, c. 1 mm long, reddish-black. Spreading amaranth.

S.A.: *EP, *YP, *SL; *N.S.W., *Vic., *Tas. Native to South America and now naturalised in North America, the Mediterranean and Australia. An occasional weed of disturbed ground. Flowers: Dec.–Apr. and Oct.

Erect annual herb to c. 70 cm high, much-branched, usually glabrous; leaves on petioles 8–15 mm long, elliptic to ovate, 15–35 × 5–17 mm, acute or obtuse, mucronate. Inflorescence of small axillary clusters to 10 mm long, predominantly female flowered; bracts and bracteoles ovate, 1.2–1.6 mm long, shorter than the tepals, acuminate; tepals 3, ovate to narrowly elliptic, 1.2–2.2 mm long, acute to acuminate. Fruit a circumsissile capsule, globose-ellipsoid, 1.8–2.6 mm long, longer than tepals, rugulose to smooth on cap; seed lenticular, 1–1.5 mm diam., reddish-brown to black.

S.A.: *YP, *SL, *MU; *Qld (doubtfully naturalised); *Vic.; *Tas. Native to southern Europe, northern Africa and western Asia, although now widely naturalised. A weed of disturbed areas. Flowers: Dec.–May.

Erect annual or ephemeral herb up to 40 cm high; stems rigid, rounded to angular; leaves on petioles 10–25 mm long, ovate to narrowly ovate, 10–50 × 4–12 mm, acute to obtuse, mucronate. Inflorescence of dense globose axillary clusters or short spikes to 17 mm long, predominantly female flowers present; bracts and bracteoles narrowly ovate, 1–3 mm long, shorter than tepals, acute; tepals 5; tepals of male flowers narrowly ovate to elliptic, c. 2 mm long, acuminate; tepals of female flowers narrowly obovate to spathulate, 4–8 mm long, erect to recurved, acuminate, mucronate to shortly aristate. Fruit an indehiscent utricle, ellipsoid, 3.5–5 mm long, slightly shorter than tepals, rugose; seed compressed obovoid, 1.4–2 mm long, reddish-brown to black. Large-flowered amaranth.

S.A.: NW, LE, GT, FR, EA, EP, NL, MU, YP; N.T.; Qld; N.S.W.; Vic. Grows on sand dunes and sand plains in red or yellow sand or in sandy pockets of stony watercourses responding quickly after rain events. It has also been recorded from disturbed areas along roadsides or in pastures and crops. Flowers: Nov.–Sep.

Annual herb, erect, to 200 cm high, sparsely pubescent; stems ribbed, older stems becoming angular; leaves on petioles 6–85 mm long, ovate to elliptic, 15–110 (–140) × 6–65 (–70) mm, acute to obtuse. Inflorescence of mainly terminal and axillary spikes to 90 × 4–7(–10) mm that often form dense panicles up to 24 cm long, erect, greenish, male and female flowers present; bracts and bracteoles ovate, 2–3 mm long, longer than tepals, acuminate, aristate, pungent; tepals 5, unequal, oblong or elliptic, acute, mucronate; tepals of male flowers 2.2–2.5 mm long; tepals of female flowers 1.2–2.2 mm long. Fruit a circumsissile capsule, urceolate, 1.2–1.5 mm long, slightly shorter to c. equal to tepals, smooth or slightly rugulose above; seed lenticular, 0.8–1.2 mm long, reddish-black. Slim amaranth, spleen amaranth, princes feather, Prince of Wales feather.

S.A.: *SL; *W.A.; *N.T., *Qld; *N.S.W.; *Vic. Native to North America. A weed of cultivation and disturbed areas. Flowers: Feb. (2 records).

This species can be distinguished from A. cruentus by having greenish, more slender, narrower spikes and slightly smaller seed. It is also similar to A. powellii but has shorter bracts, bracteoles and tepals, and A. retroflexus but is distinguished from that species by the acute rather than obtuse or emarginate tepal apices and sparsely pubescent rather than the sparsely to densely pubescent young stems and inflorescences.

Annual or ephemeral herb, erect or decumbent, to 70 cm high; stems sparsely pubescent, often reddish; leaves on petioles 3–30 (–60) mm long, ovate to trullate, 5–50 × 6–18 mm, obtuse to acute, mucronate. Inflorescence of axillary clusters and dense or interrupted terminal spikes to 22 cm long, sometimes forming panicles, erect, greenish, predominantly female flowers present; bracts and bracteoles ovate, narrowly ovate to elliptic, 1–2 mm long, shorter than tepals, acute to acuminate; tepals 1.5–3 mm long, acute or obtuse, mucronate to shortly aristate; tepals of male flowers 3 or 5, narrowly ovate, elliptic or narrowly obovate; tepals of female flowers 5, narrowly obovate to narrowly obovate-spathulate, usually erect, membranous, midnerve c. 0.1 mm wide. Fruit an indehiscent utricle, globose to obovoid, 1.2–2.5 mm long, shorter than or c. equal to tepals, rugose, ±faintly ribbed, ribs longitudinal; seed lenticular, c. 1 mm long, reddish-black. Native amaranth.

S.A.: NW, LE, FR, EA; W.A..; N.T.; Qld. Grows on rocky outcrops and slopes and in gullies often of granite, in sand in Low Open Woodland or Triodia grassland. Flowers: Apr., Jul.–Aug. and Oct.

Differs from Amaranthus mitchellii in having terminal, as well as axillary inflorescences and rugose only or very faintly ribbed fruit as opposed to fruit with inflated wavy ribs.

Annual herb, erect or prostrate, to 30 cm high, glabrous; stems angular; leaves on petioles 2–25 mm long, ovate, oblong or obovate, 10–27 × 4–13 mm, obtuse to deeply emarginate, mucronate. Inflorescence of dense, globose, axillary clusters, 7–8 mm long, predominantly female flowers present; bracts and bracteoles elliptic, 1 mm long, shorter than tepals, acute; tepals usually 3 (rarely 4 or 5), narrowly obovate to spathulate, 1.75–3 mm long, acute, mucronate to shortly aristate. Fruit an indehiscent utricle, ellipsoid, (2–) 3–5 mm long, longer than tepals, rugulose to rugose; seed compressed-obovoid, c. 1–1.5 mm long, reddish brown. Dwarf amaranth, Boggabri weed.

Flowers: sporadically throughout the year.

Fruit black or dark brown.

S.A.: LE, EA, MU; N.T.; Qld; N.S.W.; Vic. Grows on flooded plains in clay. Flowers: Mar., May, Aug. and Dec.

Fruit pallid or straw coloured.

S.A.: EA; Qld; N.S.W. On flooded clay along drainage line, old river plain. Flowers: Dec. (1 record).

Annual or ephemeral herb, erect or ascending, up to 60 cm high, glabrous; stems slightly angular; leaves on petioles 9–40 mm long, ovate or narrowly ovate to oblong, 10–45 (–55) × 6–12 (–17) mm, obtuse or emarginate, mucronate. Inflorescence of axillary, dense, globose clusters or short spikes to 10 mm long, predominantly female flowers present; bracts and bracteoles narrowly ovate to ovate, 1.5–2.5 mm long, equal to or slightly shorter than tepals, acuminate, mucronate to shortly aristate; tepals 5, broadly spathulate to spathulate, 2–3 mm long, indurated below, erect to reflexed above, obtuse to acute, mucronate to shortly aristate, midnerve 0.3–0.6 mm wide. Fruit an indehiscent utricle, obovoid to globose, 1.2–1.5 mm long, shorter than to c. equal to tepals, rugose, ribbed; ribs inflated, undulate, longitudinal; seed broadly obovoid, 1–1.5 mm long, reddish-brown or black. Boggabri weed.

S.A.: NW, LE, GT, FR, EA; W.A.; N.T., Qld; N.S.W. Grows on drainage lines, floodplains or banks of watercourses in grey clay particularly after flooding events. Also occurs in drainage lines on stony tablelands in brown clay. Flowers: Jan.–Aug. and Oct. –Nov.

Several collections from northern and north-eastern S.A. represent plants apparently intermediate between A. mitchellii, A. cuspidifolius and A. cochleitepalus (northern Australia). These plants have narrowly ovate to ovate, obtuse to emarginate leaves as in A. mitchellii, inflorescences of dense sessile clusters of flowers in the leaf axils as in A. cochleitepalus and broadly spathulate, reflexed tepals similar to A. cuspidifolius and A. mitchellii.  Further research is required to ascertain the status of these plants and whether they warrant recognition as a distinct taxon.

Perennial herb, prostrate or ascending, to 30 cm high, glabrous; stems rounded; leaves on petioles 3–10 mm long, linear to narrowly elliptic or narrowly ovate, 15–80 × 2–12 mm, obtuse, mucronate. Inflorescence of terminal panicles of spikes; spikes interrupted or continuous, to 12 cm long, erect, greenish to brownish, predominantly female flowers present; bracts and bracteoles ovate, 1–1.8 mm long, shorter than tepals, acute; tepals 4 or 5, narrowly obovate, 1.2–2 mm long, acute, membranous, midnerve c. 1 mm wide. Fruit an indehiscent utricle, globose, 1.3–2 mm long, c. equal to tepals, rugulose to rugose, with faint longitudinal ribs; seed broadly obovoid, 1–1.5 mm long, reddish-black. Rough-fruited amaranth.

S.A.: *GT, *EP, *NL, *MU, *YP, *SL; *W.A., *N.S.W.; *Vic. Native to South America. A weed of disturbed ground along footpaths, vacant blocks, degraded pasture and gardens. Flowers: Nov.–May.

Distinguished by its narrow leaves, perennial habit, black rachis of the inflorescence when mature and 4 or 5 tepals in both male and female flowers.

Annual herb, erect, to 200 cm high; stems angular, grooved, sparsely pubescent to glabrescent; leaves on petioles 3–55 mm long, ovate or elliptic to rhombic, 25–85 × 9–45 mm, obtuse or slightly emarginate, mucronate. Inflorescence of dense terminal and upper axillary spikes, to 32 cm long, sometimes forming panicles, sometimes also axillary clusters below, erect, greenish, predominantly females flowers present; bracts and bracteoles ovate, 3.5–6 mm long, longer than tepals, acuminate, short-aristate, very pungent; tepals 3–5, unequal, 2–4 mm long, acute or acuminate, mucronate to shortly aristate; tepals of male flowers narrowly ovate; tepals of female flowers narrowly oblong, narrowly ovate or narrowly elliptic. Fruit a circumcissile capsule, obovoid, 2–2.5 mm long, shorter than the tepals, smooth to rugulose; seed obovoid, 1–1.2 mm long, reddish-black. Powell’s amaranth.

S.A.: *FR, *NL, *SL, *SE; *W.A., *Qld, *N.S.W., *Vic., *Tas. Native to North and South America. A weed of disturbed sites, especially in areas under cultivation. Flowers: Dec.–May.

Distinguished from A. hybridus by the longer bracts, bracteoles and tepals and very angled and grooved stems (at least in dry material); and from A. retroflexus by having sparsely hairy to glabrescent stems and acute tepals.

Annual herb, erect, to 100 cm high or more; stems rounded, sparsely to densely woolly pubescent particularly on young stems and inflorescences; leaves on petioles 15–55 mm long, ovate or elliptic to rhombic, 20–140 × 10–80 mm, often crenulate and/or undulate, obtuse or rarely emarginate, ±mucronate, sparsely hairy on abaxial surface. Inflorescence of terminal and axillary spikes to 10 cm long, often forming a dense terminal panicle, erect, greenish, predominantly female flowers present; bracts and bracteoles narrowly ovate, 3–5 mm long, longer than tepals, acuminate, aristate, pungent; tepals 5, oblong to narrowly obovate, 1.5–3 mm long, often recurved, obtuse or emarginate, often mucronate. Fruit a circumcissile capsule, obovoid, 1.5–3 mm long, slightly shorter than tepals, smooth below with a rugose cap; seed obovoid, 1–1.5 mm long, reddish-brown to black. Redroot amaranth.

S.A.: *GT, *FR, *EP, *YP, *NL, *SL, *MU, *SE; *W.A.; *N.T.; *Qld; *N.S.W.; *Vic. Native to North America, now a widespread weed in temperate areas. A weed of disturbed ground along footpaths, vacant land and under cultivation. Flowers: Dec.–June.

Distinguished from A. powellii and A. hybridus by its oblong, obtuse to emarginate tepals and woolly pubescent stems.

Annual herb, erect, ascending or rarely creeping, to 90 cm high; stems angular, young stems sparsely hairy; leaves on petioles to 75 mm long, ovate, (5–) 15–55 (–90) × (5–) 15–40 (–60) mm, obtuse or slightly emarginate, mucronulate, glabrous, nerves white and prominent on the undersurface. Inflorescence of terminal and axillary spikes to 12 cm long, sometimes forming panicles and axillary clusters, erect, greenish, predominantly female flowers present, those at apex of spikes usually male; bracts and bracteoles ovate, 0.5–1.5 mm long, shorter than tepals, acute, mucronate; tepals 3, obovate to oblong, 1–1.5 mm long, acute, mucronate. Fruit an indehiscent utricle, broadly obovoid, 1.2–1.7 mm long, about equal to or slightly longer than tepals, rugose; seed lenticular to broadly obovoid, 0.9–1.2 mm long, dull, faintly reticulate, reddish-brown to black. Green amaranth, kerb weed.

S.A.: *NW, *LE, *FR, *EA, *EP, *NL, *MU, *YP, *SL, *SE; *W.A.; *N.T.; *Qld; *N.S.W.; *Vic. Probably native to Europe but now a cosmopolitan weed. Common on disturbed ground in settled and cultivated areas. Flowers: Nov.–May or throughout the year.

Annual or perennial herb, decumbent to ascending, to 30 cm high and 60 cm diam.; leaves narrowly elliptic, oblanceolate, ovate, elliptic or obovate, 10–45 (–80) × 4–18 mm, glabrous or sparsely hairy above, densely hairy below. Inflorescence a terminal spike; spikes sessile within 2 leaves, solitary, globose or ovoid to cylindrical, 10–15 mm wide, elongating; bracts ovate to ovate-triangular, 3–3.5 mm long, sessile, translucent throughout or opaque white at apex; bracteoles ovate, 5.5–6.5 mm long, equal to or slightly longer than tepals, opaque white for 1/2 to most of length, mid-nerve with a short irregular dentate crest just below the bracteole apex; tepals lanceolate, 4.7–6.2 mm long, translucent or white, outer surface densely hairy for length of mid-nerve; stamens 5–6 mm long; filaments united for almost entire length, resultant tube longer than fruit; pseudostaminodes absent; style 0.2–0.3 mm long. Fruit  compressed ovoid, 1.8–2.2 × 1.3–1.7 mm. Gomphrena weed.

S.A.: *NW, *EA, *MU; *W.A.; *N.T.; *Qld; *N.S.W., *Vic. Native to South America and now a weed of tropical and subtropical parts of the world. Found on disturbed ground and rough lawn. Flowers: Dec.–Jan. (all year round in other states).

One specimen of G. serrata has been collected from a garden in Gawler but this species is not considered naturalised at this stage. It is similar to G. celosioides, but can be distinguished by the bracteoles as they have a serrated crest that runs half to the full length of the midnerve rather than a short irregularly dentate crest just below the apex of the bracteoles as in G. celosioides.

Annual herb, erect to spreading, to 30 cm high; leaves linear or linear-lanceolate, 11–35(–43) × 1–3(–4) mm, sparsly or densly hairy above and below or glabrous above. Inflorescence of terminal and axillary spikes, sessile within 2 (–4) leaves or pedunculate, solitary or 2 or 3 clustered together, semi-globose to globose, 7–14 mm wide, not elongating; bracts narrowly ovate to ovate, 2.5–4.5 mm long, ±stalked, glabrous; bracteoles ovate, 3.1–5.5 mm long, equal to or slightly longer than tepals; bracts and bracteoles opaque white for up to 1/2 of length or bracts translucent throughout; tepals lanceolate to elliptic, 2.2–4 mm long, translucent, white or pink, densely hairy for almost entire length; stamens 1.5–2.3 mm long; filaments united for 1/2–3/4 of length, tube shorter than fruit; pseudostaminodes present, much shorter than or ± equal to free filament portions; style 0.2–0.5 mm long. Fruit ovoid, 1.5–2.4 × 0.9–1.4 mm.

S.A.: NW, LE; W.A., N.T.; Qld. No habitat data available from S.A. specimens. In other states it grows in red sand in grassland with Triodia spp. on low dunes, flat plains and in drainage lines; or in red to brown loamy soils in woodlands of Acacia and Eucalyptus spp. Also grows in skeletal soils in low woodland or with spinifex species in areas of granite, sandstone or limestone outcrops on scree slopes or ridge tops. Flowers: Mar. (Jan.–Aug. or occasionally all year round in other states).

This taxon has been confused with G. brachystylis subsp. brachystylis in the past but that species differs in having broader leaves (3–9 mm), tepals that are hairy for only the length of the midnerve and a shorter style, and it occurs further north in the Kimberley, W.A. and northern N.T.

Perennial mat-forming herb with stems to 30 cm or more long, woolly especially on the younger parts; leaves radical and cauline; radical leaves falling early; leaf petiole winged; leaf blade narrowly-elliptic to elliptic or narrowly to broadly ovate, 5–17 mm × 2–10 mm, acute, ± glabrous above, sparse to dense matted hairy below. Inflorescence of spikes; spikes sessile, 2–5 mm long, rachis hairy; bracts and bracteoles elliptic to ovate, 1.6–2.5 mm long, obtuse, translucent; tepals 2–2.5 mm long, united in the lower half, densely woolly outside, white or translucent, free lobes elliptic to ovate, 1–1.5 mm long, unequal, acute to rounded, midnerve prominent for 2/3 of length; stamens united for entire length, adnate to tepals below free lobes. Fruit broadly ovoid, 1–1.5 × 0.8–1.1 mm. Small matweed.

S.A.: *MU; *W.A.; *N.T.; *Qld; *N.S.W. Native to southern United States of America, Mexico and western South America; naturalised in southern Africa and Australia. Known from two records, one from a caravan park in Renmark and the other from a property near Waikerie. Habitats in other states include disturbed areas, footpaths, roadsides and mown lawns. Flowers: Jan. and Mar. (Nov. to June in other states).

Henrickson (1987) indicates that this species is variable across its natural range and considers specimens from Australia to be the typical variety.

Dense low, decumbent to ascending shrub or subshrub to 50 cm high and up to 100 cm wide; stems glabrous or minutely papillose; leaves alternate, 3–20 (–25) × 1–3 mm often uncinate at the tip, rarely papillose, bright green to red. Inflorescence of solitary, axillary flowers; bracts alternate; at flowering similar to leaves, basal adaxial surface concave, 3–9.5 × 1.2–2.5 mm; at fruiting becoming slightly enlarged, erect to spreading, free part 4.8–11 × 1.7–2.7 mm, base swollen; bracteoles lanceolate to ovate, 1.8–3.2 × 0.6–1.8 mm, acute, white; tepals narrow-ovate, 2–5 × 0.6–2.2 mm, acute, 1-nerved, pink or white; stamens 2, united in the lower 1/3 and adpressed on one side of the ovary, pink to red; style shortly notched at the summit. Fruit persistent in bract axils; seed obovoid, brown. Mallee hemichroa.

S.A.: .NW, LE, NU, GT, FR, EP, NL, YP, SL, KI; W.A.; NT; N.S.W.;Vic. Grows with samphire species in coastal salt marshes and mangrove swamps, also on limestone cliffs. In inland areas it grows on salt-pan and lake margins in sandy gypseous soils. Flowers: Nov.–Feb. (Jul. in other states); fruits persist into next flowering season.

Plants in north-west coastal Western Australia tend to have opposite to sub-opposite leaves and bracts . Collected from Kangaroo Island (KI) in 1883 but has not been seen since.

Erect, bushy, woody shrub 50–150 cm high; stems divaricate, finely striate, glabrous or papillose, often somewhat spine-tipped; leaves opposite, 6–20 × 1.5–4 mm, grey-green. Inflorescence of solitary, axillary flowers; bracts opposite to sub-opposite; at flowering similar to leaves, basal adaxial surface concave, 7–12 × 2–3.5 mm; at fruiting enlarged and thickened, spreading to reflexed, the free part 10–22 × 3–11 mm, base prominently gibbous, brown; bracteoles lanceolate, 3.5–7 mm × 1–2.3 mm, acuminate, white; tepals lanceolate, 6–10 × 1.5–3.5 mm, acuminate, 1-nerved, white; stamens 2, united in the lower 2/3 and adpressed, on one side of the ovary, pink to red; style notched. Fruit persistent in bract axils; seed pyriform to obovoid, light-brown.

S.A.: LE; Qld. Grows with samphire and chenopod species on low-lying flats, mound springs, or along drainage systems in saline clay loam. Flowers: Mar.–Apr., fruit persists into next flowering season.

Originally collected by Ernest Giles in the late 1800’s and not rediscovered until 1984 (Chinnock & Badman, 1986). Plants from Queensland tend to have longer (up to 30 mm) and narrower leaves, longer (up to 18 mm) and narrower flowering bracts and longer (up to 30.5 mm) and narrower fruiting bracts.

(Vulnerable status in S.A.)

Prostrate to trailing perennial herb, stems ascending up to 10 cm high; stems pubescent towards the tip, smooth; leaves alternate, 4–18 × 1–4 mm, light to bright green. Inflorescence of solitary, axillary flowers; bracts similar to leaves, 3.5–1.7 × 1–3.5 mm, no marked change at fruiting; bracteoles ovate, 2–2.6 × 1.2–1.8 mm, acute, white; tepals lanceolate to ovate, 2.5– 4 mm × 1.2–2.5 mm, acute, 3-nerved, white or pale pink; stamens 5, united at the base in a cup around the ovary, pink; style bifid or rarely divided halfway to ovary. Fruit persistent in bract axils; seed lenticular, deep red to black, shiny. Trailing hemichroa.

S.A.: EP, MU, YP, SL, KI, SE; W.A..; Vic.; Tas. Grows on saltpan margins and banks of tidal rivers with Melaleuca and samphire species. Flowers: and fruits: Oct.–Mar.

Prostrate herbs to 4 cm high × 70 cm wide; stems sometimes reddish, densely hairy, glabrescent with age; leaves obovate, ovate or subspathulate, sparsely hairy, glabrescent with age, basal leaves to 60 × 20 mm, bases long-attenuate, equal to or longer than upper expanded portion, cauline leaves 50 × 16 mm, bases usually attenuate. Inflorescences mostly axillary, ± globose, ovoid or cylindrical, to 3 cm long, to 40-flowered; bract 3–4 mm long, apex acuminate; bracteoles 2.8–3.5 mm long, apices acute or ± mucronate; perianth 4.5–4.9 mm long, green or cream to brown, apices sometimes purplish; tepals with dense, nodose to subverticillate hairs to 0.5 mm long marginally, and to 2.5 mm long medially, upper portion with scattered to moderately dense, verticillate hairs to 0.5 mm long, or sometimes glabrous, apices acuminate to ± aristate; fertile stamens 2 or 3, filaments to 2 mm long, staminodes 2 or 3; ovary densely hairy; style 0.4–0.5 mm long, central. Mat mulla mulla.

S.A.: NW; W.A.; N.T. Occurs in clay or ironstone gibber, on Mitchell grass stony plains. Flowers: Apr.–Oct.

Erect herbs to 40 cm high; stems and leaves hairy, glabrescent with age; leaves spathulate, obovate, ovate or elliptic, basal leaves to 110 × 25 mm, bases long-attenuate, equal to or longer than upper expanded portion, cauline leaves to 52 × 14 mm, bases cuneate or attenuate. Inflorescences terminal, hemispherical, ovoid, or rarely obovoid or ± cylindrical, to 6 cm long, to 80–flowered; bract 5–8.5 mm long; bracteoles 6–8 mm long, both with apices aristate; perianth (9–) 12–17.5 mm long, pink to purplish-pink; tepals with sparse to dense, nodose or subverticillate hairs to 5 mm long, shortening near apex, sparse to dense, verticillate hairs to 0.8 mm long beneath, apices erose, obtuse or truncate; fertile stamens 2 (rarely 3), filaments to 6.5 mm long, staminodes 2 or 3; ovary sparsely hairy apically, or rarely glabous; style (3–) 3.2–4 mm long, eccentric.

S.A.: LE; N.T. Occurs in loam or clay textured soils, with open vegetation on gibber plains or slopes, sometimes extending into adjacent floodouts. Flowers: mainly Jul.–Sep., also recorded other months throughout the year.

Erect shrubs to 40 cm high; stems hairy, glabrescent with age; leaves ovate or obovate, glabrous, or with some scattered hairs basally or marginally, to 10 × 4 mm, bases attenuate. Inflorescences terminal or pseudo-terminal, ± hemispherical or ovoid, to 3 cm long, to 35-flowered; bract 2.4–3.2 mm long; bracteoles 2.8–4 mm long, both with apices aristate or ± mucronate; perianth 7.5–8.5 mm long, white, pinkish tinged when fresh, often curved; tepals with dense, nodose hairs to 0.5 mm long on lower half, hairs to 1.5 mm long on remainder, tepals usually recurved at anthesis, apices minutely erose, truncate; fertile stamens 4, filaments to 3.5 mm long, staminode 1; ovary densely hairy; style 2.8–3 mm long, central.

S.A.: LE. Grows in white gypsum or limestone soils on slopes of breakaways with scattered Acacia spp., chenopods and herbs. Flowers: May–Aug.

(Rare status in S.A.)

Erect herbs to 20 cm high; stems and leaves glabrous; leaves spathulate, obovate or narrowly elliptic, basal leaves to 50 × 10 mm, bases long-attenuate, usually shorter than, or sometimes equal to, upper expanded portion, cauline leaves to 32 × 7 mm, bases attenuate. Inflorescences terminal, hemispherical, ovoid, globose or shortly cylindrical, to 9 cm long, to 60-flowered; bract 8–10 mm long; bracteoles 9–13 mm long, both with apices acuminate or apiculate; perianth 18–25 mm long, white or greenish-white, apices pinkish; tepal surface with dense, nodose hairs to 4 mm long on lower third, hairs to 9 mm long on upper two thirds, shortening near apex, with scattered to moderately dense, simple hairs to 1 mm long beneath, apices ± erose, acute or obtuse; fertile stamens 4, filaments to 17 mm long, staminode 1, staminal cup with interstaminal fringed lobes to 0.5 mm long; ovary sparsely hairy apically, or glabrous; style 18–20 mm long, hairy basally, eccentric. Ironstone mulla mulla.

S.A.: EP, KI. Occurs in sand, laterite or ironstone gravel, on flats or gentle slopes, or in disturbed, regenerating areas, such as roadsides or mined areas, in open areas of low open woodland or heath communities. Flowers: usually Aug.–Jan.

The restricted distribution and low stature of P. beckerianus distinguish it from the similar P. macrocephalus.

(Vulnerable status in S.A.)

Prostrate herbs to 7 cm high × 80 cm wide; stems and leaves sparsely hairy, glabrescent with age; basal leaves broadly obovate or elliptic, to 95 × 22 mm, bases long-attenuate, equal to or longer than upper expanded portion, cauline leaves obovate or subspathulate, to 50 × 20 mm, bases attenuate. Inflorescences terminal or pseudo-terminal, hemispherical, obloid-ovoid, or ± globose, to 3.5 cm long, to 50-flowered; bract 6–6.8 mm long, apex aristate; bracteoles 6.5–7.5 mm long, apices acuminate to aristate; perianth 13–15 mm long, pink or red; tepals with dense, subverticillate hairs to 2.5 mm long basally, hairs sparse and to 4 mm long on remainder, shortening near apex, dense to sparse, verticillate hairs to 0.3 mm long beneath, apices erose, obtuse; fertile stamens 2, filaments to 5.5 mm long, staminodes 3; ovary hairy apically, style 4.3–5 mm long, eccentric.

S.A.: NW; W.A.; N.T. Occurs in red loam or sandy loam, with open mulga woodland. Flowers: usually Apr.–Sep.

In S.A. the species is only known from a single collection in the extreme north-west corner of the State.

Erect herbs to 75 cm high; stems and leaves densely hairy, hairs persisting with age; leaves obovate, elliptic or narrowly elliptic, to 80 × 14 mm, bases attenuate or long-attenuate. Inflorescences terminal, hemispherical, ovoid, globose or shortly cylindrical, to 8 cm long, to 80-flowered; bract 7–10 mm long; bracteoles 6–9.5 mm long, both with apices apiculate or aristate; perianth 18–21 mm long, green, greenish-white or yellowish-green, apices purple; tepal surface with dense, nodose hairs to 3 mm long on lower third, hairs to 7.5 mm long on upper third to two thirds, shortening near apex, with scattered to moderately dense, simple hairs to 0.2 mm long beneath, apices acute; fertile stamens 5, filaments to 15 mm long, staminal cup with interstaminal fringed lobes to 1.5 mm long; ovary glabrous; style 13–17 mm long, central. Tassel top.

S.A.: NW (Tomkinson Ranges); W.A.; N.T.; Qld. Occurs in sands, loams or clays, on stony hills or limestone ridges, in low open woodland or Triodia grasslands. Flowers: most months of the year.

Low herbs, sometimes semi-prostrate, to 30 cm high; stems and leaves hairy, glabrescent with age; leaves ovate, elliptic or rarely obovate, to 35 × 15 mm, bases cuneate or attenuate. Inflorescences mostly axillary, globose or ovoid, to 1.2 cm long, to 30-flowered; bract and bracteoles 3–4.2 mm long, both with apices acuminate to aristate; perianth 2.7–4.2 mm long, cream, white or greenish, apices sometimes purple or reddish; outer pair of tepals with dense, simple or nodose hairs to 2.5 mm long marginally on lower half, medially and distally glabrous, inner tepals hairy distally, glabrous basally, apices acute to acuminate, fertile stamens 5, filaments to 0.5 mm long; ovary glabrous; style 0.2–0.3 mm long, central.

S.A.: NW, LE (N end of Flinder Ranges), GT, FR, EA (Bibliando), EP (Gawler Ranges & Moonabie Range); W.A.; N.T.; Qld. Grows in small patches, on rocky skeletal soils on slopes and crests of quartzite hills or sandstone ridges, with mixed shrubs and herbs. Flowers: all year, but mainly Jul.–Sep.

Easily recognised by its numerous axillary inflorescences, and small, hairy flowers, enclosed in the longer bract and bracteoles.

Spinescent, erect shrubs to 30 cm high; stems divaricate, stems and leaves hairy, glabrescent with age; leaves narrowly obovate, elliptic or ovate, to 5.5 × 1 mm, bases truncate. Inflorescences terminal or pseudo-terminal, ± obovoid, to 0.5 cm long, to 8-flowered; bract 1–1.5 mm long; bracteoles 2–2.5 mm long, both with apices mucronate; perianth 5.5–6.5 mm long, grey-white or pinkish-purple; tepals with moderately dense, nodose or subverticillate hairs to 1.5 mm long, wavy at apex, equal to or just exceeding apices, with moderately dense, verticillate hairs to 0.1 mm long beneath, often difficult to discern, apices erose, obtuse or acute; fertile stamens 2, filaments to 3 mm long, staminodes 3, staminal cup with interstaminal hairs to 1 mm long; ovary glabrous or sparsely hairy apically; style 2.2–3.5 mm long, eccentric.

S.A.: FR. Grows in stony brown clay, on rises around saline depressions and podsol breakaways near mine tailings, in low saltbush shrubland. Flowers: mainly Oct.–Apr.

Erect herbs to 40 cm high; stems and leaves sparsely hairy, glabrescent with age; leaves narrowly elliptic to narrowly obovate, basal leaves to 115 × 4.5 mm, bases long-attenuate, equal to or up to twice as long as upper expanded portion, cauline leaves to 25 × 2 mm, bases attenuate. Inflorescences terminal, ovoid or ± hemispherical, to 4 cm long, to 30-flowered; bract (5–) 7–9.8 mm long; bracteoles (5–) 6.5–9 mm long, both with apices acuminate-aristate; perianth 12–17 mm long, curved upwards at anthesis, white or greyish, tinged pink or purple; tepals with dense, nodose hairs to 1.2 mm on lower half, to 5 mm long on upper half, shortening near apex, apices erose, truncate or obtuse to acute; fertile stamens 4, filaments to 6.5 mm long, staminode 1; ovary hairy apically; style 4–5 mm long, ± central. Hairyheads, hairytails.

S.A.: FR (Tarlowie hills), NL, MU (eastern Mt Lofty Ranges), SL, SE; N.S.W.; Vic. Grows in loamy, often rocky soils, on seasonally moist hills, flats or depressions, supporting grassland and low woodland communities. Flowers: mainly Nov.–Feb.

(Rare status in S.A.)

Erect herbs to 75 cm high; stems and leaves glabrous or sparsely hairy; leaves linear, to 60 × 1 mm, bases truncate. Inflorescences terminal, globose or shortly cylindrical, to 3 cm long, to 40-flowered; bract 1.5–2.5 mm long, apex acute; bracteoles 3.5–4.5 (–5.5) mm long, apices obtuse; perianth 10.5–13 mm long, green or greenish-white; tepals with dense, nodose hairs to 4 mm long, mainly on lower third, hairs to 6 mm long marginally in upper portion, shortening near apex, medially glabrescent, apices acute; fertile stamens 4, filaments to 8.5 mm long, staminode 1, staminal cup with dense interstaminal hairs to 2 mm long; ovary hairy apically; style 6–11.5 mm long, eccentric.

S.A.: LE (Strzelecki overflow); W.A.; N.T.; Qld. Occurs in flooded sandy loam, by lignum swamp.

In S.A. known only from a single collection, occurring far south of its present known range.

Erect herbs to 70 cm high; stems and leaves sparsely hairy; leaves narrowly obovate or narrowly elliptic, rarely subspathulate or ovate, basal leaves usually withered and senescent by anthesis, to 65 × 8 mm long, bases long-attenuate, shorter than or equal to upper expanded portion, cauline leaves to 47 × 5 mm long, bases cuneate or attenuate. Inflorescences terminal or pseudo-terminal, globose, shortly cylindrical, or hemispherical, to 3 cm long, to 35-flowered; bract 2.7–5 mm long, bracteoles 3–5.4 mm long, both with apices apiculate; perianth 7.5–15 mm long, green, yellow or white, sometimes reddish; tepals with nodose hairs to 3.5 mm long basally, remainder with moderately dense, nodose hairs to 1 mm long medially, forming two comb-like rows, apices acute; fertile stamens 3 or 4, filaments to 10 mm long, staminodes 1 or rarely 2, staminal cup with interstaminal fimbriate hairs to 0.3 mm high; ovary hairy or glabrous apically; style 4–10.5 mm long, eccentric. Paper foxtail.

Two subspecies are recognised in South Australia.

Inflorescences to 3 cm long; bract 4–5 mm long; bracteoles 4.5–5.2 mm long; perianth 10–15 mm long; staminal filaments 8.5–10 mm long; style 7–10.5 mm long.

S.A.: NW, LE, NU, GT, EP; W.A.; N.T. Occurs on dunes, plains or creek banks, in red or brown sand, loam or clay-loam, in open mulga (Acacia aneura) woodland, chenopod shrubland or Triodia communities. Flowers: mainly Apr.–Nov.

Inflorescences to 2 cm long; bract 2.7–4.2 mm long; bracteoles 3–5.4 mm long; perianth 7.5–9 mm long; staminal filaments 4.5–5 mm long; style 4–5.3 mm long.

S.A.: FR (near Moro Gorge), EA, MU; N.T.; Qld; N.S.W. Grows on flats or low rises in red sand, loam or clay-loam, sometimes with stones or gravel particles, growing in open eucalypt and mulga (Acacia aneura) woodland or shrubland, grassland or herbfields. Flowers: mainly Aug.–Oct.

Erect herbs to 40 cm high; stems and leaves hairy, hairs persisting with age; leaves linear or narrowly obovate, ovate or elliptic, to 45 × 8 mm, bases cuneate or attenuate. Inflorescences terminal or pseudo-terminal, ovoid or globose to subglobose, to 3 cm long, to 55-flowered; bract 6–8 mm long, apex apiculate to aristate; bracteoles 3.2–4 mm long, apices apiculate; perianth 6.5–8 mm long, purple, mauve or pink; tepals with moderately dense, simple or ± nodose hairs to 1.5 mm long basally, nodose hairs to 2 mm long, mostly marginally and simple hairs to 0.5 mm long medially, apices erose, truncate or acute; fertile stamens 4, filaments to 3 mm long, staminode 1, staminal cup with interstaminal ciliate or fimbriate lobes to 1 mm long, staminode basally merged with lobes to 1.8 mm long; ovary hairy apically; style 2–3.2 mm long, central. Hairy mulla mulla, woolly tails.

S.A.: NW, LE, EA; W.A.; N.T.; Qld. Grows in red sand on stony or lateritic flats and low slopes, with open mulga scrub or scattered eucalyptus woodland, over tussocky spinifex grassland. Flowers: throughout the year, most frequently Aug.–Nov.

Differs from the similar P. pseudohelipteroides by its longer perianths, bracts and styles.

Erect shrubs or herbs to 60 cm high; stems and leaves densely hairy, hairs persisting with age; leaves elliptic or obovate, to 65 × 20 mm, bases attenuate. Inflorescences terminal, pseudo-terminal, or rarely ± axillary, ovoid, shortly cylindrical or hemispherical, to 1.5 cm long, to 35-flowered, pedunculate, peduncles not branching, 0–3 mm long; bract 5.5–6 mm long, apex aristate or acute; bracteoles 5.5–6 mm long, apices aristate; perianth 8.5–9.5 mm long, pink, purple or greenish; tepals with moderately dense, nodose or subverticillate hairs to 1.8 mm long on lower third, hairs to 3.5 mm long on remainder, shortening near apex, with moderately dense, verticillate hairs to 0.4 mm long beneath, apices erose, truncate; fertile stamens usually 3, filaments to 4.2 mm long, staminodes 2; ovary glabrous; style 3–4 mm long, eccentric.

S.A.: NW; W.A.; N.T.; Qld. Occurs on rocky hills and plains, in red sandy soils, with open Acacia spp. and eucalypt woodland over chenopods. Flowers: mainly Aug.–Oct., occasionally in other months.

Similar to P. obovatus, differing by the inflorescences having non-branching peduncles, the peduncles 3 mm or less long, and the lower leaves with longer, denser hairs.

Compact, rounded, or sometimes spindly or straggling, erect or suberect shrubs to 1 m high; stems numerous, tangled, stems and leaves hairy, glabrescent with age; leaves obovate or broadly obovate, spathulate, ovate or rarely narrowly elliptic, to 52 (–75) × 25 mm, bases attenuate. Inflorescences terminal, pseudo-terminal and axillary, globose, obovoid-ovoid or narrowly cylindrical, to 4 cm long, to 25-flowered; bract 3–4 mm long, apex acuminate-apiculate; bracteoles 6–7.5 mm long, apices acuminate; perianth 4.9–6 mm long, pale-pink or silvery-white, apices pink; tepals with dense, woolly, simple hairs to 6 mm long, attached basally, bundled in lower two thirds of perianth, remainder with sparse, crisped, simple hairs to 3 mm long, apices acuminate; fertile stamens 5, filaments to 1.4 mm long, staminal cup with interstaminal lobes to 0.2 mm long; ovary glabrous; style 0.8–1 mm long, central. Tangled mulla mulla, white foxtail.

S.A.: NW, LE, GT; W.A.; N.T.; Qld; N.S.W. Occurs on red sand dunes, in open hummock grassland, or low heathland. Flowers: all year, especially Jul.–Oct.

Recognisable by the large bracteoles, enclosing the tangled woolly perianths.

Erect herbs to 80 cm high; stems and leaves sparsely hairy, glabrescent or glabrous; leaves linear or narrowly elliptic, basal leaves to 160 × 15 mm, bases long-attenuate, shorter than or sometimes equal to upper expanded portion, cauline leaves to 90 × 10 mm, bases attenuate. Inflorescences terminal, hemispherical, conical or ± cylindrical, to 15 cm long, to 120-flowered; bract 7–15 mm long, apex acuminate; bracteoles 6–10 mm long, apices rounded, mucronate; perianth 20–30 mm long, green, cream or white, apices pinkish; tepals with moderately dense, simple and nodose hairs to 3 mm long on lower third, hairs to 9 mm long on remainder, shortening near apex, with sparse to moderately dense, simple or ± nodose hairs to 0.5 mm long beneath, apices acute or obtuse; fertile stamens 4, filaments to 20 mm long, staminode 1, staminal cup with interstaminal hairs to 0.5 mm long, not always obvious; ovary hairy apically; style 17–22 mm long, hairy basally, eccentric. Green pussytails, featherheads, feathertails, square-headed foxtail.

S.A.: NW, LE, SE; W.A.; N.T.; Qld; N.S.W.; Vic. Grows mainly in sandy red brown soils, on plains or small rises, associated with woodlands of Acacia and Eucalyptus spp. Flowers: most of the year, peaking in Jul.–Dec.

Differs from the similar P. nobilis by having only simple and nodose hairs on the outer tepals, longer bract and bracteoles, and a hairy style.

Prostrate herbs to 15 cm high × 80 cm wide, densely matted; stems and leaves glabrous; leaves ovate, obovate or elliptic, to 30 × 10 mm, bases attenuate or long-attenuate. Inflorescences axillary, subglobose, or shortly cylindrical, to 2.5 cm long, to 30-flowered; bract 1–1.5 mm long; bracteoles 1–1.7 mm long, both with apices obtuse; perianth 2–3.8 mm long, white or cream, apices pink to purplish; tepals with dense, tangled, simple or ± nodose hairs to 8 mm long, matted in lower two thirds of tepals, apices obtuse; fertile stamens 5, or rarely 4, filaments to 0.5 mm long; ovary glabrous; style 0.2–0.5 mm long, central.

S.A.: LE; W.A.; Qld. Grows in skeletal or pebbly clayey loam, on interdune swales or drainage channels, with low chenopod shrubland. Flowers: mainly May–Nov.

Erect herbs or shrubs to 1 m high; stems and leaves sparsely hairy, glabrescent with age, often densely hairy when young; leaves obovate, narrowly obovate, narrowly elliptic or spathulate, basal leaves coriaceous, sometimes glaucous, to 110 × 34 mm, bases attenuate or long-attenuate, cauline leaves to 55 × 25 mm, bases cuneate or attenuate. Inflorescences terminal, conical, hemispherical, ovoid or cylindrical, to 12 cm long, to 200-flowered; bract 7.5–12 mm long, apex acute or acuminate; bracteoles 7.5–12.5 mm long, apices apiculate or aristulate; perianth 13–27 mm long, purple, pink, pale yellow, green, creamy-white or greenish-white; tepals with sparse to moderately dense, nodose to subverticillate hairs to 10 mm long on upper third, shortening near apex, dense, verticillate hairs to 1 mm long beneath and on remainder, apices minutely erose, obtuse; fertile stamens 2–4, filaments to 19 mm long, staminodes 1–3; ovary glabrous, or hairy apically; style 10.5–20 mm long, eccentric. Yellow tails, pink mulla mulla, tall mulla mulla, showy foxtail, regal foxtail, broad foxtail.

The following three subspecies are recognised.

Herbs or shrubs; basal leaves not coriaceous, not glaucous, 4–15 mm wide, bases long-attenuate, longer than half upper expanded portion. Inflorescences usually hemispherical or ovoid, rarely cylindrical, to 3 cm long, to 45-flowered; perianth 21–27 mm long; style 16–17 mm long.

S.A.: FR, EP (Baroota, southern Flinder Ranges), NL, SL. Grows on rocky slopes or hills, occurring with eucalypts. Flowers: Oct.–Nov.

Endemic to the Mt Lofty and southern Flinders Ranges. An early imprecise collection labeled as Yorke Peninsula probably derives from the northern edge of the Mt Lofty Ranges.

Shrubs, often robust; basal leaves coriaceous, sometimes glaucous, 16–34 mm wide, bases attenuate or long-attenuate, usually shorter than one third, or rarely equal to, upper expanded portion. Inflorescences usually cylindrical, rarely ovoid, to 10 cm long, to 200-flowered; perianth 20–24 mm long; style 18–20 mm long.

S.A.: NW, LE, NU, GT, FR, EA, EP, NL, MU; W.A.; N.T.; Qld; N.S.W.; Vic. Found in a variety of habitats, on hillsides or plains, in red sands, sandy loams or clays, often rocky or stony ground. Occuring in Acacia spp. shrubland, mallee-eucalypt woodland, or grassland with chenopods and Triodia spp.

Herbs or shrubs; basal leaves not coriaceous, not glaucous, 1–10 mm wide, bases long-attenuate, longer than upper expanded portion. Inflorescences usually hemispherical or ovoid, rarely cylindrical spikes to 6 cm long, to 60-flowered; perianth 13–22 mm long; style 10.5–14 mm long. Hairy tails, lamb tails.

S.A.: SE; Qld; N.S.W.; Vic. Occurs on rocky hills or plains, in grey or black cracking clay or sandy loam. Associated with Eucalyptus or Allocasuarina spp. woodland, or grassland with herbs. Flowers: Oct.–Mar.

(Endangered status in S.A.)

Erect shrubs, sometimes rounded, to 1.2 (–2) m high; stems and leaves densely hairy, hairs persisting with age; leaves obovate, ovate or elliptic, to 45 × 22 mm, bases attenuate or cuneate. Inflorescences terminal or pseudo-terminal, hemispherical, ovoid, globose, shortly cylindrical, or often forming loose compound corymbs, to 3 (–5) cm long, to 40-flowered, pedunculate, peduncles 3–30 mm long; bract 1.9–4.5 mm long, apex acute or apiculate; bracteoles 2.5–5.5 mm long, apices acuminate to aristate-apiculate; perianth 6–9.5 mm long, pink, purple or mauve; tepals with moderately dense, nodose or subverticillate hairs to 5 mm long, shortening near apex, with a dense skirt of hairs to 1.5 mm long just below apex, with dense, verticillate hairs to 0.2 mm long beneath, apices erose, truncate or obtuse; fertile stamens 3, filaments to 5.2 mm long, staminodes 2; ovary hairy apically or all over; style 2.5–4.2 (–5) mm long, eccentric. Silver mulla mulla, silver tails, silverbush, white fox tail, cottonbush, smokebush.

S.A.: NW, LE, NU, GT, FR, EA, EP, NL, MU, YP; W.A.; N.T.; Qld; N.S.W.; Vic. Inhabiting a wide range of habitats including open flats or plains, rocky slopes or outcrops, creek beds, clay-pan depressions and coastlines. Grows in sandy clay or loams, sometimes with gravels or calcareous pebbles. Occurs in open shrubland, mallee woodland or tussock grassland, with eucalypts, Casuarina, Acacia and Dodonaea spp., and chenopods. Flowers: all year, but mainly June–Nov.

A variable species, especially perianth length, and the degree of hairiness on the vegetative and floral parts.

Rounded, subspinescent, erect shrubs to 25 cm high; stems divaricate, stems and leaves glabrous or sparsely hairy; leaves ovate or obovate, to 5.5 (–7) × 2 mm, bases truncate. Inflorescences terminal, hemispherical, ovoid, globose, or sometimes shortly cylindrical, to 2 (–4) cm long, to 20-flowered; bract 3–3.5 mm long, bracteoles 4–5.3 mm long, both with apices mucronate; perianth 11–12 mm long, pink or pinkish-purple; tepals with dense, nodose or subverticillate hairs to 4 mm long, shortening near apex, with sparse, subverticillate to verticillate hairs to 0.3 mm long beneath, apices ± acute; fertile stamens 2, filaments to 7 mm long, staminodes 3, staminal cup with interstaminal hairs to 0.8 mm long; ovary glabrous, or sparsely hairy apically; style 6–7 mm long, eccentric.

S.A.: ;GT, LE (Billa Kalina).. Grows in red, brown or grey skeletal soils on rocky scree slopes, gibber flats, drainage lines and on edges of salt lakes. Associated with chenopods and herbs in low shrubland. Flowers: Jul.–Jan.

This species is most similar to P. propinquus, differing by the non-glaucous leaves and stems, and the bracts shorter than the bracteoles.

Erect shrubs to 1.5 m high; stems and leaves hairy, glabrescent with age; leaves linear, narrowly ovate or obovate, margins often undulate, upper leaves often much reduced, to 140 × 25 mm, bases attenuate. Inflorescences terminal or pseudo-terminal, cylindrical, or conical when immature, to 12 cm long, to 180-flowered; bract 3.5–4.8 mm long, apex acute; bracteoles 3.5–5 mm long, apices rounded, minutely apiculate; perianth 9.5–16 mm long, green, cream, yellowish, sometimes with red, pink or mauve tepal apices; tepals with moderately dense, nodose or subverticillate hairs to 4 mm long, shortening near apex, apices obtuse to acute; fertile stamens 3–4, filaments to 10 mm long, staminodes 1–2, staminal cup with interstaminal ciliate lobes or hairs to 0.3 mm long, staminodes basally merged with lobes to 0.8 mm long; ovary glabrous or hairy apically; style 7.5–12 mm long, often exerted from perianth, hairy, eccentric. Long tails, bottle washers, Prince of Wales feather.

S.A.: NW, LE, NU, GT, FR, EA, EP, MU, SL; W.A.; N.T.; Qld; N.S.W.; Vic. Grows in sandy loam on plains and dunes, or on hill slopes over calcrete or granite, with low open woodland or hummock grasslands. Flowers: most of the year, particularly May–Nov.

Rounded, subspinescent, erect shrubs to 60 cm high; stems divaricate, stems and leaves glabrous or sparsely hairy, glaucous (new growth); leaves ovate or obovate, to 3.5 × 1 mm, bases truncate. Inflorescences terminal or pseudo-terminal, hemispherical, cylindrical or ovoid, to 5 cm long, to 50-flowered; bract and bracteoles (3.2–) 4.5–6 mm long, apices aristate to mucronate; perianth 11–12.5 mm long, pink or purple; tepals with moderately dense, nodose or subverticillate hairs to 6 mm long, shortening near apex, with moderately dense, subverticillate to ± verticillate hairs to 0.4 mm long beneath, apices laciniate, acute; fertile stamens 2, filaments to 7 mm long, staminodes 3, staminal cup with interstaminal hairs to 0.5 mm long; ovary glabrous or sparsely hairy apically; style 5.5–6.5 mm long, eccentric.

S.A.: FR, EA (S of Chambers Gorge). Recorded growing in bare shaley clay soil, on ironstone hills, gypseous breakaways or rocky gullies, with chenopods in low open woodland. Flowers: mainly Mar.–Jul., but also recorded for Sep. and Nov.

Erect herbs to 20 cm high; stems and leaves hairy, hairs persisting with age; leaves obovate or narrowly elliptic, to 35 × 8 mm, bases cuneate or attenuate. Inflorescences terminal or pseudo-terminal, globose or ovoid, to 1.5 cm long, to 35-flowered; bract 4–5 mm long, apex acuminate to apiculate; bracteoles 3–4.2 mm long, apices acuminate; perianth 4.8–6.2 mm long, pink, purple or greenish; tepals with moderately dense, simple or ± nodose hairs to 0.5 mm long basally, nodose hairs to 2 mm long, mostly marginally and simple hairs to 0.5 mm long medially, apices erose, truncate or acute; fertile stamens 4, filaments to 2 mm long, staminode 1, staminal cup with interstaminal ciliate to fimbriate lobes to 0.7 mm long, staminode basally merged with lobes to 0.9 mm long; ovary hairy apically; style 1.4–1.7 mm long, central.

S.A.: NW, LE; W.A.; N.T.; Qld. Occurs along rocky creeks or gravelly rises, in red clay, associated with open mulga woodland. Flowers: mainly Apr.–Oct.

Very similar to P. helipteroides, being a diminutive form of this species.

Subspinescent, erect shrubs to 60 cm high; stems divaricate, stems and leaves hairy, glabrescent with age; leaves ovate or narrowly ovate, to 18 × 5 mm, bases attenuate or rarely cuneate. Inflorescences terminal or pseudo-terminal, hemispherical or shortly cylindrical, to 3 cm long, to 20-flowered; bract and bracteoles 3–4.5 mm long, apices mucronate; perianth 9–13 mm long, purple or deep pink; tepals with moderately dense, nodose or subverticillate hairs to 5 mm long, shortening before apex, with sparse to moderately dense, subverticillate to verticillate hairs to 0.5 mm long beneath, apices erose, acute; fertile stamens 2, filaments to 7 mm long, staminodes 3, staminal cup with dense interstaminal hairs to 1 mm long; ovary glabrous or sparsely hairy apically; style 6–7.5 mm long, eccentric.

S.A.: LE; Qld; N.S.W. Grows in skeletal soils on hillsides, slopes and gullies of tableland country, in low shrubland. Flowers: mainly June–Nov., occasionally in other months of the year.

Shrubs, sometimes rounded, to 20 cm high; stems and leaves densely hairy, hairs persisting with age; leaves obovate or elliptic, to 20 × 5 mm, bases cuneate or attenuate. Inflorescences terminal or pseudo-terminal, an irregular, compound corymb, to 0.7 cm long, to 9-flowered; bract 2.2–3.6 mm long; bracteoles 2.5–3 mm long, both with apices acute; perianth 4.5–6.5 mm long, pink or purple; tepals with sparse, subverticillate or verticillate hairs to 1 mm long basally, remainder glabrous or with some subverticillate or verticillate hairs to 0.6 mm long, with sparse, verticillate hairs to 0.2 mm long beneath, apices erose, acute; fertile stamens 2 or 3, filaments to 3.2 mm long, staminodes 2 or 3, filamentous or tepal-like; ovary hairy apically; style 2.3–2.6 mm long, eccentric.

S.A.: FR; N.T. Flowers: Oct.

Although vegetatively very close to P. obovatus, this species differs in its smaller less hairy flowers, and having staminodes which are tepal-like, the flowers often appearing to have up to 8 tepals. Only two collections from the 1950’s are known for this species. As it is very similar to the common P. obovatus, it may be easily overlooked by collectors.

(Vulnerable status in S.A.)

Erect shrubs, sometimes rounded, to 1 m high; stems and leaves glabrous, sometimes glaucous; leaves linear to narrowly elliptic, scattered, often appearing leafless, to 40 × 2.2 mm, bases attenuate. Inflorescences terminal or pseudo-terminal, globose, obovoid, ± hemispherical or narrowly cylindrical, to 4 cm long, to 25-flowered; bract 2.5–4.2 mm long, apex acuminate; bracteoles 2.4–4.3 mm long, apices acuminate to apiculate; perianth 5–7 mm long, white or grey, tinged pink or purple; tepals with moderately dense, simple or ± nodose hairs to 0.8 mm long on lower half and medially, hairs to 2.5 mm long marginally on upper portion, shortening near apex, apices erose, acute; fertile stamens usually 5, filaments to 3.8 mm long, staminodes occasionally 1 or 2, staminal cup with interstaminal ciliate to fimbriate lobes to 1 mm long; ovary hairy apically, rarely glabrous; style 1.6–3 mm long, central. Horse mulla mulla.

S.A.: NW; W.A.; N.T.; Qld. Occurs on plains, breakaways and hill slopes in sandy clay loam, associated with open mulga woodland over grasses. Flowers: usually May–Sep., occasionally in other months.

Further work is required on this widespread species to formally deal with the infraspecific taxa, especially in Western Australia. Until this work progresses, taxa in S.A. are best referred to as Ptilotus schwartzii, in line with those in eastern Australia, as treated by Bean (2008).

(Rare status in S.A.)

Prostrate or semi-prostrate herbs to 10 cm high × 30 cm wide; stems hairy, glabrescent with age; basal leaves obovate or elliptic, glabrous, to 90 × 20 mm, bases long-attenuate, shorter than upper expanded portion, cauline leaves ovate, obovate or elliptic, sparsely hairy, to 20 × 8 mm, bases cuneate or attenuate. Inflorescences terminal or pseudo-terminal, globose or ovoid, to 5 cm long, to 50-flowered; bract 7.5–9 mm long; bracteoles 8–10 mm long, both with apices aristate; perianth 15–17 mm long, green, grey or white; tepals with lower third glabrous, except some verticillate hairs to 0.5 mm long marginally, remainder with moderately dense, nodose or ± subverticillate hairs to 10 mm long, hairs exceeding apices, with moderately dense, verticillate hairs to 0.4 mm long beneath, apices laciniate, ± acute; fertile stamens 2, filaments to 4.5 mm long, staminodes 3; ovary hairy apically; style 3.8–5 mm long, eccentric. Rabbit tails.

S.A.: EP, NL, MU, YP; W.A.; N.S.W.; Vic. Grows in red-brown silty or sandy loams, on low dunes and between ridges, in mallee scrub associations. Flowers: most frequently Aug.–Dec.

Erect shrubs, sometimes rounded, to 70 cm high; stems and leaves densely hairy, hairs persisting with age; leaves obovate or elliptic, to 75 × 30 mm, bases cuneate or attenuate. Inflorescences terminal or pseudo-terminal, hemispherical or cylindrical, to 2.5 cm long, to 20-flowered; bract 2.8–4 mm long, apex apiculate or aristate; bracteoles (2.5–) 3.5–5.5 mm long, apices apiculate; perianth 10–15 mm long, pink, purple or mauve; tepals with moderately dense, sub-verticillate hairs to 6 mm long on upper half only, or entire length, shortening near apex, with dense, verticillate to dendritic hairs to 0.8 mm long beneath, apices erose, truncate or obtuse; fertile stamens 3, filaments to 9 mm long, staminodes 2; ovary glabrous or rarely sparsely hairy apically; style 6.5–8 mm long, eccentric. Silver tails, crimson fox tail.

S.A.: NW, LE, NU, GT, FR, EA, EP, NL, MU; W.A.; N.T.; Qld; N.S.W.; Vic. Grows in sand on dunes or interdune flats and floodplains, with very open shrubland of Acacia, Hakea and Eremophila spp., and tussock grassland. Flowers: all year round but most frequently June–Oct.

Variation is evident in this species across its range with respect to tepal size and perianth hairiness. In S.A. there are two forms present: plants with longer tepals, the over-topping outer tepal hairs occurring along the entire tepal length, and plants with shorter tepals, the over-topping outer tepal hairs on the top half only. Further research is required to determine if this variation is taxonomically significant.

Low prostrate or decumbent herbs to 25 cm high × 40 cm wide; stems and leaves sparsely hairy, glabrescent with age; leaves spathulate or subspathulate, obovate or occasionally elliptic, basal leaves to 95 × 10 mm, bases long-attenuate, longer than or often to twice length of upper expanded portion, cauline leaves 17 × 8 mm, bases attenuate. Inflorescences terminal or pseudo-terminal, cylindrical, or less commonly conical or ovoid, to 9 cm long, to 100-flowered; bract 4.5–8 mm long, apex long-acuminate; bracteoles 3.8–7.5 mm long, apices apiculate; perianth 7.5–12 mm long, green, greenish-yellow or cream; tepals with dense to moderately dense, nodose or subverticillate hairs to 5 mm long, hairs exceeding apices, with sparse to moderately dense, verticillate hairs to 0.4 mm long beneath, apices laciniate, ± acute; fertile stamens 2 or 3, filaments to 3.3 mm long, staminodes 2 or 3; ovary hairy apically; style 1.5–2.2 mm long, eccentric. Pussy tails, cats paws.

S.A.: GT, FR, EA, EP, NL, MU, YP, SL, KI, SE; W.A.; N.S.W.; Vic.; Tas. Occurs in a wide range of habitats from coastal limestone cliffs and sand dunes, to inland undulating hills, on hill crests and foot slopes. Grows in limestone, sandy loam, clay loam, cracking clay and skeletal or gravelly soils. Vegetation includes Melaleuca spp. and Acacia spp. shrubland, open eucalypt woodland or tussock grassland. Flowers: Jul.–Mar., most frequently Sep.–Dec.

Some morphological variation is evident for this species, especially in the floral characters, across its widespread distribution.

Prostrate, decumbent, lax shrubs to 50 cm high × 50 cm wide, often growing through other shrubs; stems and leaves hairy, glabrescent with age; leaves narrowly elliptic or ovate, to 20 × 5 mm, shortly petiolate, bases attenuate. Inflorescences terminal or pseudo-terminal, globose or hemispherical, to 2.5 cm long, to 30-flowered; bract 3–4 mm long; bracteoles 4.3–7 mm long, both with apices acuminate; perianth 9.5–11 mm long, white, cream or green; tepals with nodose or ± subverticillate hairs to 9 mm long, mostly on lower half of tepal, exceeding apices by 1–2 mm, apices erose, ± truncate; fertile stamens 3, filaments to 2.2 mm long, staminodes 2; ovary glabrous; style 1.2–1.5 mm long, eccentric.

S.A.: NU; W.A. Occurs on sheet limestone, in Acacia spp. woodland, or open mallee scrub. Flowers: mainly Sep.–Nov., but also between June–Feb.

(Rare status in S.A.)

Erect shrubs to 1 m high; stems glabrous, occasionally glaucous, sometimes divaricate; leaves narrowly to broadly obovate, sometimes subspathulate, rarely linear, glabrous, to 15 × 6 mm, bases attenuate. Inflorescences terminal or pseudo-terminal, hemispherical to shortly conical, to 4 cm long, rarely to 7 cm, to 40-flowered; bract and bracteoles 3.5–6 mm long, apices mucronate to aristate; perianth 9–12.5 (–14) mm long, pale pink or purple, or red with grey hairs; tepals with moderately dense, nodose hairs to 6 mm long, shortening near apex, with dense, subverticillate to verticillate hairs to 0.4 mm long beneath, apices obtuse or acute; fertile stamens 2, filaments to 6.5 mm long, staminodes 3, staminal cup with dense interstaminal hairs to 1 mm long; ovary glabrous; style 5.6–7.5 mm long, eccentric.

S.A.: NW, LE; N.T. Grows in red, brown or yellow skeletal soils of gravelly clay or sand, on gibber plains, scree slopes, quartzitic sandstone hills, limestone outcrops, rocky breakaways, gullies and creekbeds. Associated with chenopod and Acacia spp. scrub, or tall shrubland, often with a grassy understorey. Flowers: mainly Apr.–Oct., and occasionally in other months of the year.