Overview
- Ptilotus senarius had not been recorded since 1967 and was formally described in 2014 from 1925 and 1967 herbarium specimens before being listed as presumed extinct.
- The Australian Journal of Botany published a CSIRO-backed paper confirming the rediscovery, led by University of New South Wales researcher Thomas Mesaglio.
- Roughly 15 plants were documented at a confidential site on a Gilbert River cattle station in northern Queensland, with the exact location withheld.
- Horticulturalist Aaron Bean uploaded photos to iNaturalist in June 2025, drawing the attention of Queensland Herbarium botanist Tony Bean and prompting a field check.
- Researchers moved quickly after the online observation, with a July 2 message, a July 7 specimen collection, and verification in Brisbane within a week, and they plan targeted surveys and long-term monitoring.