In 2010 former WA Naturalist Club councillor Cate Tauss found a new species of Ptilotus (Mulla Mulla). The new plant species has been unearthed in suburban Kenwick of all places.

Western Australian Environment Minister Bill Marmion said the discovery was the most significant botanical find in the Perth metropolitan area since 2005.

The new species was discovered late last year by botanical consultant Cate Tauss. Ms Tauss found the new species – Ptilotus christineae – while surveying the vegetation of a variety of habitats around the Brixton Street Wetlands.

About 80 new species of plant are discovered in WA every year but finding one just 14km from the Perth central business district is extremely rare.

Update

Ptilotus sp. Brixton (C. Tauss 4136) is an informal synonym.

Reason See R.W. Davis & C. Tauss in Nuytsia 21:98 (2011).

Ptilotus christineae R.W.Davis & Tauss is more recently known as Ptilotus pyramidatus (Moq.) F.Muell.

Reason See R.W. Davis in Nuytsia 22:335(2012)

How you can help

It would be helpful if the Club members would look out for more populations of this tiny plant, particularly in Melaleuca acutifolia wetlands on the Swan Coastal Plain  in October, and notify the WA Herbarium if they see it.