About Conostylis aculeata R.Br.
Conostylis aculeata R.Br. is a perennial plant that grows in tufts or as a multi-stemmed clump, reaching 30 cm (12 in) wide and up to 60 cm (24 in) tall. Its leaves are flat, most often green and sometimes bluish-green, growing up to 60 cm (24 in) long and 1 cm (0.39 in) wide, with margins that usually carry widely spaced spines. The flower stem is green, and can be either simple or multi-branched, measuring 3–45 cm (1.2–17.7 in) long; it is similar in length to the leaves or longer than them. The bracts are brown or green, flexible, smooth, dry, and thin. The perianth tube is yellow both inside and outside, is covered in hairs, and measures 5–12 mm (0.20–0.47 in) long. Its lobes are whitish on the inside and 3–9 mm (0.12–0.35 in) long. The upright stamens are held in dense clusters at the end of stems. This species flowers from August to November. This conostylis is a widespread species that occurs from Zuytdorp National Park to Augusta and Albany, and extends inland to Cowcowing and Narembeen. It grows in a variety of settings, including sand, heath, loam, and woodlands. Inland populations of the species favor wetter sites. As of October 2023, the Australian Plant Census accepts the following subspecies of C. aculeata: C. aculeata R.Br. subsp. aculeata, C. aculeata subsp. breviflora Hopper, C. aculeata subsp. bromelioides (Endl.) J.W.Green, C. aculeata subsp. cygnorum Hopper, C. aculeata subsp. echinissima Hopper, C. aculeata subsp. gracilis Hopper, C. aculeata subsp. preissii (Endl.) J.W.Green, C. aculeata subsp. rhipidion J.W.Green, C. aculeata subsp. septentrionora Hopper, and C. aculeata subsp. spinuligera (Benth.) Hopper (spiny conostylis).
