AusTraits

Ptilotus spathulatus

Explore the data for this taxon in the portal

Family Amaranthaceae

Taxonomy: Ptilotus spathulatus (R.Br.) Poir.

Synonyms: 5 (APC 2026-07-30)
  • Ptilotus spathulatus (R.Br.) Poir. f. spathulatus (nomenclatural synonym)
  • Ptilotus spathulatus f. angustatus Benl (taxonomic synonym)
  • Ptilotus spatulatus F.Muell. (orthographic variant)
  • Trichinium mucronatum Nees (taxonomic synonym)
  • Trichinium spathulatum R.Br. (nomenclatural synonym)

Distribution (APC): WA, SA, NSW, Vic, Tas

Profiles: APC, Flora of Australia, ALA, iNaturalist, NSW Flora, SA eFlora, Vic Flora, Florabase, ATRP

Traits

Top source datasets: ANBG_2019 (6), Cheal_2017 (5), Draper_2023 (3), Dwyer_2017 (3), Gosper_2018 (4), Jordan_2001 (6), Kew_2019_1 (1), Lunt_2012 (2), Mokany_2015 (3), NHNSW_2014_2 (9), NHNSW_2024 (6), NSWFRD_2014 (4), RBGV_2022 (2), RBGV_2023 (6), SAH_2014 (1), SAH_2022 (4), SAH_2023 (8), Sjostrom_2006 (4), Sweedman_2006 (4), TMAG_2009 (5), Tsakalos_2020 (16), WAH_1998 (1), WAH_2022_1 (4), WAH_2022_2 (8), WAH_2023_1 (7), WAH_2023_2 (3), Wenk_2022 (2), Wenk_2023 (1), White_2020 (63), Williams_2005 (5), Williams_2011 (20). See below for a full list of sources.
Summary: AusTraits contains 65 traits from 216 records in 31 datasets.

Traits by category (click to expand). For categorical traits, the values are listed. For numerical traits, the mean and range are shown.

fire response
flower morphology
  • flower_colour (categorical): green (1); yellow_orange (1) [sources: NHNSW_2014_2]
  • sex_type (categorical): hermaphrodite (2); monoecious (1) [sources: Jordan_2001; Sjostrom_2006]
fruit morphology
  • fruit_type (categorical): nut (1); utricle (1) [sources: RBGV_2023; Sjostrom_2006]
  • fruit_fleshiness (categorical): dry (3) [sources: Jordan_2001; Sjostrom_2006; Tsakalos_2020]
  • fruit_dehiscence (categorical): indehiscent (1) [sources: Sjostrom_2006]
leaf morphology
  • leaf_area (numerical): 392.7 mm2 (392.7-392.7 mm2) [sources: Mokany_2015]
  • leaf_length (numerical): 59.9 mm (19-100 mm) [sources: NHNSW_2014_2; NHNSW_2024; RBGV_2023; SAH_2014; WAH_2023_1]
  • leaf_width (numerical): 8.41 mm (2-12 mm) [sources: NHNSW_2014_2; NHNSW_2024; RBGV_2023; WAH_2023_1]
  • leaf_mass_per_area (numerical): 41.67 g/m2 (41.67-41.67 g/m2) [sources: Dwyer_2017]
  • leaf_type (categorical): broadleaf (1) [sources: NHNSW_2024]
  • leaf_shape (categorical): deltate (1); lanceolate (1); oblanceolate (1); obovate (2); ovate (1); spathulate (3) [sources: NHNSW_2024; RBGV_2023; SAH_2023]
  • leaf_margin (categorical): entire (2) [sources: NHNSW_2014_2; Tsakalos_2020]
  • leaf_compoundness (categorical): simple (3) [sources: NHNSW_2014_2; TMAG_2009; Tsakalos_2020]
  • leaf_lamina_posture (categorical): flat (1) [sources: Tsakalos_2020]
  • leaf_glaucousness (categorical): not_glaucous (2) [sources: Tsakalos_2020]
  • leaf_hairs_adult_leaves (categorical): glabrous (1) [sources: Tsakalos_2020]
  • leaf_phyllotaxis (categorical): alternate (2) [sources: NHNSW_2014_2; WAH_2023_1]
  • plant_photosynthetic_organ (categorical): cladode (1); leaf (7) [sources: NHNSW_2024; RBGV_2023; SAH_2023; Tsakalos_2020; WAH_2023_1]
life history
  • photosynthetic_pathway (categorical): c3 (4); c4 (2) [sources: Tsakalos_2020; White_2020; Williams_2011]
  • plant_growth_form (categorical): herb (13) [sources: NSWFRD_2014; RBGV_2022; SAH_2022; TMAG_2009; WAH_2022_1; WAH_2022_2; Wenk_2022; White_2020; Williams_2011]
  • life_form (categorical): hemicryptophyte (4) [sources: Gosper_2018; Williams_2005; Williams_2011]
  • life_history (categorical): perennial (10) [sources: Gosper_2018; Jordan_2001; SAH_2022; TMAG_2009; Tsakalos_2020; WAH_2022_1; WAH_2022_2; Wenk_2023; Williams_2005]
  • woodiness_detailed (categorical): herbaceous (7) [sources: RBGV_2022; SAH_2022; Tsakalos_2020; WAH_2022_1; WAH_2022_2; Wenk_2022]
  • stem_growth_habit (categorical): prostrate (9); rhizomatous (1); rosette (2) [sources: NHNSW_2014_2; SAH_2022; Tsakalos_2020; WAH_2022_1; WAH_2022_2; WAH_2023_1; White_2020]
  • nitrogen_fixing (categorical): non_nitrogen_fixer (5) [sources: White_2020; Williams_2011]
  • root_structure (categorical): non_mycorrhizal (2) [sources: Williams_2011]
  • parasitic (categorical): not_parasitic (4) [sources: Tsakalos_2020; White_2020]
  • pollination_syndrome (categorical): insect (3); wind (1) [sources: Draper_2023; White_2020]
  • pollination_system (categorical): biotic_unspecialised (2) [sources: Williams_2011]
  • dispersal_syndrome (categorical): anemochory (4); epizoochory (3) [sources: Draper_2023; White_2020; Williams_2005; Williams_2011]
  • dispersers (categorical): mammals (3); wind (1) [sources: Draper_2023; White_2020]
  • flowering_time (categorical): nnnnnnnyyynn (1); nnnnyyyyyynn (1); ynnnnnnyyyyy (3); yyyynnnnyyyy (1) [sources: TMAG_2009; Tsakalos_2020; WAH_1998; White_2020]
  • seedbank_location (categorical): canopy_seedbank_absent (1); soil_seedbank_absent (1) [sources: Gosper_2018; Williams_2005]
  • serotiny (categorical): not_serotinous (1) [sources: Gosper_2018]
  • seedbank_longevity_class (categorical): persistent (3) [sources: White_2020]
  • vegetative_reproduction_ability (categorical): not_vegetative (4) [sources: White_2020; Williams_2005]
  • clonal_spread_mechanism (categorical): non_clonal (2) [sources: Williams_2011]
  • storage_organ (categorical): rhizome (1) [sources: SAH_2023]
seed morphology
  • seed_dry_mass (numerical): 2.18 mg (0.88-3.86 mg) [sources: ANBG_2019; Dwyer_2017; Kew_2019_1; Lunt_2012; Mokany_2015]
  • seed_length (numerical): 6.84 mm (1.69-12 mm) [sources: ANBG_2019; Jordan_2001]
  • seed_width (numerical): 1.06 mm (1-1.13 mm) [sources: ANBG_2019; Jordan_2001]
  • seed_shape (categorical): lenticular (3); reniform (1) [sources: ANBG_2019; SAH_2023]
whole plant morphology

Sources

dataset_idn_traitsn_recordsreference
White_20202163M. White, S. Sinclair, and D. Frood. Victorian Vital Attributes Database. database. Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, Victoria, 2020.
Williams_20111020R. P. Duncan, S. E. Clemants, R. T. Corlett, A. K. Hahs, M. A. McCarthy, M. J. McDonnell, M. W. Schwartz, K. Thompson, P. A. Vesk, and N. S. G. Williams. “Plant traits and extinction in urban areas: a meta-analysis of 11 cities”. Global Ecology and Biogeography 20.4 (2011), pp. 509-519. doi: 10.1111/j.1466-8238.2010.00633.x.
Tsakalos_20201516J. L. Tsakalos, M. Renton, F. Riviera, E. J. Veneklaas, M. P. Dobrowolski, and L. Mucina. “Trait-based formal definition of plant functional types and functional communities in the multi-species and multi-traits context”. Ecological Complexity 40 (2019), p. 100787. doi: 10.1016/j.ecocom.2019.100787.
NHNSW_2014_279Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney. PLantNET: NSW flora online. 2014. url: http://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/.
SAH_202348S. H. of South Australia. eFlora of SA, Electronic Flora of South Australia. accessed on 6 May, 2022.. 2022. url: http://www.flora.sa.gov.au/.
WAH_2022_248Western Australian Herbarium. Florabase—the Western Australian Flora.. accessed on 14 September, 2022.. 2022. url: https://florabase.dpaw.wa.gov.au/.
WAH_2023_157Western Australian Herbarium. Florabase—the Western Australian Flora.. accessed on 14 September, 2022.. 2023. url: https://florabase.dpaw.wa.gov.au/.
ANBG_201966Australian National Botanic Gardens. The National Seed Bank. 2018. url: http://www.anbg.gov.au/gardens/living/seedbank/.
Jordan_200166G. J. Jordan. “An investigation of long-distance dispersal based on species native to both Tasmania and New Zealand”. Australian Journal of Botany 49.3 (2001), pp. 333-340. doi: 10.1071/bt00024.
NHNSW_202456N. H. of New South Wales. The Plant Information Network System of The Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust Version 2.0.. accessed on December, 2023.. 2024. url: https://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/.
RBGV_202366VicFlora. Flora of Victoria, Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria. accessed on 6 May, 2022.. 2023. url: https://vicflora.rbg.vic.gov.au/.
Cheal_201755D. Cheal. Growth stages and tolerable fire intervals for Victoria's native vegetation data sets. Fire and adaptive management, report no. 84. Victorian Government Department of Sustainability and Environment Melbourne, 2010.
TMAG_200955Tasmanian Herbarium. Flora of Tasmania Online. 2009. url: http://www.tmag.tas.gov.au/floratasmania.
Williams_200555N. S. G. Williams, J. W. Morgan, M. J. McDonnell, and M. A. McCarthy. “Plant traits and local extinctions in natural grasslands along an urban-rural gradient”. Journal of Ecology 93.6 (2005), pp. 1203-1213. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2745.2005.01039.x.
Gosper_201844C. R. Gosper, C. J. Yates, G. D. Cook, J. M. Harvey, A. C. Liedloff, W. L. McCaw, K. R. Thiele, and S. M. Prober. “A conceptual model of vegetation dynamics for the unique obligate-seeder eucalypt woodlands of south-western Australia”. Austral Ecology 43.6 (2018), pp. 681-695. doi: 10.1111/aec.12613.
NSWFRD_201444B. Kenny, C. Orscheg, E. Tasker, M. A. Gill, and R. Bradstock. NSW Flora Fire Response Database, v2.1. database. NSW Department of Planning Industry and Environment, 2014.
SAH_202244S. H. of South Australia. eFlora of SA, Electronic Flora of South Australia. accessed on 6 May, 2022.. 2022. url: http://www.flora.sa.gov.au/.
Sjostrom_200644A. Sjöström and C. L. Gross. “Life-history characters and phylogeny are correlated with extinction risk in the Australian angiosperms”. Journal of Biogeography 33.2 (2006), pp. 271-290. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2699.2005.01393.x.
Sweedman_200624L. Sweedman and D. Merritt. Australian Seeds: A Guide to Their Collection, Identification, and Biology. CSIRO Publishing, 2006. ISBN: 9780643094079.
WAH_2022_144Western Australian Herbarium. Florabase—the Western Australian Flora.. accessed on 14 September, 2022.. 2022. url: https://florabase.dpaw.wa.gov.au/.
Draper_202333J. T. Draper, S. Delean, J. G. Conran, P. Weinstein, and B. S. Simpson. “Life-history characteristics and climate correlates of dioecious plant species in central southern Australia”. Australian Journal of Botany unknown.unknown (2023), p. unknown. doi: 10.1071/BT22110.
Dwyer_201733J. M. Dwyer and D. C. Laughlin. “Constraints on trait combinations explain climatic drivers of biodiversity: The importance of trait covariance in community assembly”. Ecology Letters 20.7 (2017), pp. 872-882. doi: 10.1111/ele.12781.
Mokany_201533K. Mokany, J. J. Thomson, A. J. J. Lynch, G. J. Jordan, and S. Ferrier. “Linking changes in community composition and function under climate change”. Ecological Applications 25.8 (2015), pp. 2132-2141. doi: 10.1890/14-2384.1.
WAH_2023_213Western Australian Herbarium. Florabase—the Western Australian Flora.. accessed on 14 September, 2022.. 2023. url: https://florabase.dpaw.wa.gov.au/.
Lunt_201212I. Lunt and J. Morgan. “Unpublished data: Trait data from various Morgan and Lunt projects 1990-2012, Charles Sturt & La Trobe University”. 2012.
RBGV_202222VicFlora. Flora of Victoria, Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria. accessed on 6 May, 2022.. 2022. url: https://vicflora.rbg.vic.gov.au/.
Wenk_202222E. Wenk. “Unpublished data: Australian plant growth forms dataset”. 2022.
Kew_2019_111Royal Botanic Gardens Kew. Seed Information Database (SID) and Seed Bank Database. 2019. url: http://data.kew.org/sid/.
SAH_201411J. P. Jessop and H. R. Toelken. Flora of South Australia, 4th edition, 4 vols. Electronic version curated by J. Kellermann, State Herbarium of South Australia.. Government Printer, Adelaide, 1986.
WAH_199811Western Australian Herbarium. FloraBase: The Western Australian flora. 1998. url: http://florabase.dpaw.wa.gov.au.
Wenk_202311E. Wenk. “Unpublished data: Australian plant life history dataset, University of New South Wales, Sydney”. 2023.