Adenanthos acanthophyllus, commonly known as prickly woollybush, is a species of shrub endemic to Western Australia.
The shrub has a robust habit and typically grows to a height of 2to but can reach as high as 6m (20feet). It often has many stems arising from a lignotuber. The petiolate leaves are fan shaped with three segments approximately 30mm long and 302NaN2 wide.[1] It blooms between April and June producing pink-red and green flowers. The perianth is up to 272NaN2 in length dark red or pale red-pink and green, with short and long hairs outside. The glabrous style is about 352NaN2 with a slightly pubescent ovary.[1]
The broad lobes armed with spines. The leaves resemble those of members of other proteaceous genera such as Isopogon baxteri. It is the most northerly species of the genus Adenanthos, found over 80km (50miles) disjunct from the nearest known populations of any other species.[1] It is found in coastal areas of the Mid West and Gascoyne regions of Western Australia where it grows in sandy soils. It is often the dominant plant in the areas where it is found.[1] It is also part of the tree heath at the overlap between the South West and the Eremaean botanical provinces in the Shark Bay World Heritage Area.
Other species found in the same area include: Eucalyptus beardiana, Grevillea rogersoniana, Acacia drepanophylla, Verticordia cooloomia, Eucalyptus roycei and Hakea stenophylla.[2]