Ptilotus falcatus

Ptilotus falcatus is a prostrate to ascending perennial herb with annual stems from a woody rootstock and that typically grows to a height of up to 10 cm (3.9 in). The leaves on the stems are lance-shaped, with the narrower end towards the base, 28–45 mm (1.1–1.8 in) long and 1–4 mm (0.039–0.157 in) wide, and hairy mostly on the midrib and edges. There are egg-shaped or sickle-shaped, reddish brown bracts 8.9–10.0 mm (0.35–0.39 in) long and lance-shaped to narrowly egg-shaped bracteoles 8.5–9.1 mm (0.33–0.36 in) long with reddish-brown strip along the midrib. The flowers are borne in a green or white, oval spike, the outer tepals 18–20 mm (0.71–0.79 in) long, the inner tepals narrowly lance-shaped, 17–19 mm (0.67–0.75 in) long. There are 5 fertile stamens, the style is curved, 2.5–2.8 mm (0.098–0.110 in) long and fixed to the side of the ovary.^[2][3]

Ptilotus falcatus was first formally described in 2014 by Robert Wayne Davis and Timothy Hammer in the journal Nuytsia from specimens collected near Warradarge in 2011.^[2][4] The specific epithet (falcatus) means 'sickle-shaped', referring to the floral bracts of this species.^[5]

This species of Ptilotus is only known from one small population on private property near Warradarge growing in low heath on a north-east facing slope in the Geraldton Sandplains bioregion of Western Australia.^[3]