Ptilotus polystachyus

Erect or straggling, several-branched herb, to c. 1 m high. Stems finely pubescent in upper part. Leaves linear to (ob)lanceolate, c. 4–12 cm long, 2.5–15 mm wide, pubescent with septate, minutely barbed hairs; margins commonly finely undulate. Basal rosette not developed. Spike erect, cylindric, 3–12 cm long, c. 3 cm diam., moderately dense, pale green to straw-coloured; bract ovate, 3–4.5 mm long, acute, straw-coloured, transluscent; bracteoles orbicular to broadly elliptic, equal to or slightly longer than bract, virtually transparent; perianth 13–16 mm long; tepals free to base, outer surface fairly densely covered with long, silky, septate hairs to within 1–2 mm of apex, inner surface glabrous; fertile stamens 3 or 4; ovary subsessile, with a few long hairs at the summit, style very eccentric. Flowers most of year (conditions permitting) but mainly May–Nov.