Red Pussytail

Wurre Home | Fauna | Flora | Landscape

The Red Pussytail (Ptilotus polystachyus) is the local variant of the red form of the pale greenish-yellow Long Tails (also known as Longtails).

They are an erect sprawling herb that can grow up to 2 metres high. The characteristic flower spikes start off short and then extend into a long narrow cylindrical shape.

Part of the genus Ptilotus, they are part of commonly named Mulla Mullas, that are a group of flowering plants also sometimes called Pussytails, due to their distinctive shaped flower heads.

The plant is a short-lived perennials, native to Australia, common in arid regions on sand dunes, stony and red sandy soils.

Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Amaranthaceae
Genus: Ptilotus
Species: P. polystachyus
Binomial name: Ptilotus polystachyus

Footnote & References

Ptilotus, Ausemade, https://ausemade.com.au/flora-fauna/flora/ptilotus/
Longtail, Ausemade, https://ausemade.com.au/flora-fauna/flora/ptilotus/longtail-ptilotus-polystachyus/
Redtails, Ausemade, https://ausemade.com.au/flora-fauna/flora/ptilotus/red-pussytail-ptilotus-polystachyus/