Ptilotus andersonii

Ptilotus andersonii is a prostrate hairy, perennial herb that typically grows up to 5 cm (2.0 in) high. Leaves at the base of the plant are spatula-shaped to lance-shaped with the narrower end towards the base, 30–45 mm (1.2–1.8 in) long and 3–10 mm (0.12–0.39 in) wide. Cauline leaves are arranged alternately, flat, lance-shaped to egg-shaped with the narrower end towards the base. The flowers are pink, borne in oval heads or loose panicles 10–20 mm (0.39–0.79 in) long and 15–23 mm (0.59–0.91 in) wide on the end of the stems. There are brown, lance-shaped to narrowly egg-shaped, bracts 6–7 mm (0.24–0.28 in) long and broadly egg-shaped bracteoles 5.8–6.3 mm (0.23–0.25 in) long at the base of the flowers. The tepals are green with pink tips, narrowly lance-shaped, the outer tepals 8–10 mm (0.31–0.39 in) long, the inner tepals 7–9.5 mm (0.28–0.37 in) long. There are two fertile stamens 3.5–4.2 mm (0.14–0.17 in) long and three staminodes less than 0.5 mm (0.020 in) long. Flowering has been observed in September.^[2][3]

Ptilotus andersonii was first formally described in 2015 by Robert Davis in the journal Nuytsia from specimens collected on Burnerbinmah Station in 1996.^[2][4] The specific epithet (andersonii) honours Don Anderson, the owner, later caretaker of Burnerbinmah Station who collected the type specimen.^[2][3]

Ptilotus andersonii is only known from the type specimen, in the Yalgoo bioregion of Western Australia, where it grows in open woodland on loamy soils.^[2][3]