Ptilotus Explained

Ptilotus is a genus of approximately 120 species of annual and perennial herbs and shrubs in the family Amaranthaceae. All species are native to mainland Australia,^{[1] [2] [3]} although one species, Ptilotus spathulatus (R.Br.) Poir., also occurs in Tasmania and another, Ptilotus conicus R.Br., in Malesia on the islands of Flores and Timor. Most of the diversity is in Western Australia, particularly in the Pilbara.^{[4] [5]} Common names for species in this genus include mulla mulla, foxtails, pussy tails and lamb's tails. The genus was first formally described by botanist Robert Brown in Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae in 1810.^[6] In family-level phylogenetic studies, Ptilotus has been placed within a clade informally known as the 'aervoids'.^[7] It has been resolved as monophyletic and is closely related to Aerva Forssk.^[8] An interactive key to the species of Ptilotus is available at KeyBase.^[9]

Species

See main article: List of Ptilotus species.

Conservation status

A number of Ptilotus species are listed as threatened or priority flora in Western Australia:

• Ptilotus actinocladus T.Hammer & R.W.Davis, Priority 1
• Ptilotus alexandri Benl, Priority 2
• Ptilotus andersonii R.W.Davis, Priority 1
• Ptilotus beardii Benl, Priority 3
• Ptilotus blackii Benl, Priority 3
• Ptilotus caespitulosus F.Muell., Presumed Extinct
• Ptilotus chortophytus (Diels) Schinz, Priority 1
• Ptilotus chrysocomus R.W.Davis, Priority 1
• Ptilotus clivicola R.W.Davis & T.Hammer, Priority 2
• Ptilotus crispus Benl, Priority 1
• Ptilotus crosslandii (F.Muell.) Benl, Priority 3
• Ptilotus daphne Lally, Priority 1
• Ptilotus falcatus R.W.Davis & T.Hammer, Priority 1
• Ptilotus fasciculatus W.Fitzg., Priority 4
• Ptilotus lazaridis Benl, Priority 3
• Ptilotus luteolus (Benl & H.Eichler) R.W.Davis, Priority 3
• Ptilotus marduguru Benl, Priority 2
• Ptilotus mitchellii Benl, Priority 1
• Ptilotus mollis Benl, Priority 4
• Ptilotus procumbens Benl, Priority 1
• Ptilotus pyramidatus (Moq.) F.Muell., Threatened (Declared Rare)
• Ptilotus rigidus Lally, Priority 1
• Ptilotus sericostachyus subsp. roseus (Moq.) Benl, Priority 1
• Ptilotus subspinescens R.W.Davis, Priority 3
• Ptilotus tetrandrus Benl, Priority 1
• Ptilotus trichocephalus Benl, Priority 4
• Ptilotus wilsonii Benl, Priority 1
• Ptilotus yapukaratja R.W.Davis & T.Hammer, Priority 1

Notes and References

1. Hammer. Timothy A.. Davis. Robert W.. Thiele. Kevin R.. 2015. A molecular framework phylogeny for Ptilotus (Amaranthaceae): Evidence for the rapid diversification of an arid Australian genus.. Taxon. 64. 2. 272–285. 10.12705/642.6.
2. Web site: Australian Plant Census. Council of Heads of Australasian Herbaria. 2017-01-21.
3. Web site: Nuytsia: 29: A key to Ptilotus (Amaranthaceae) in Western Australia. florabase.dpaw.wa.gov.au. en. 2019-01-26.
4. Web site: Ptilotus occurrence records. Australia's Virtual Herbarium. Council of Heads of Australasian Herbaria. 2017-01-21.
5. Web site: Ptilotus R.Br.. 8 September 2016. FloraBase. Western Australian Herbarium. 2017-01-21.
6. Book: Prodromus florae Novae Hollandiae et insulae Van-Diemen. 1810 . Brown, R. . Typis Richardi Taylor & Socii. London . 414 . 10.5962/bhl.title.3678.
7. Müller. K.. Borsch. T.. 2005. Phylogenetics of Amaranthaceae based on matK/trnK sequence data: Evidence from parsimony, likelihood, and Bayesian analyses. Ann. Missouri Bot. Gard.. 92. 66–102.
8. Sage. R.F.. Sage. T.L.. Pearcy. R.W.. Borsch. T.. 2007. The taxonomic distribution of C4 photosynthesis in Amaranthaceae sensu stricto. Am. J. Bot.. 94. 12. 1992–2003. 10.3732/ajb.94.12.1992. 21636394.
9. Web site: Species of Ptilotus. Hammer. Timothy A.. Davis. Robert W.. 17 January 2017. KeyBase: Flowering plants of Australia. Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria. 27 January 2017. Thiele. Kevin R..