Trichinium preissii Nees Ptilotus polystachyus (common name - Prince of Wales feather) is a perennial herb in the Amaranthaceae family.

[4][5][6] Stems are ribbed with short crisped or verticillate hairs near the base,[4][5] and can be simple or paniculately branching,[4] in clumps up to 2m in diameter.

[4][5][6] Ptilotus polystachyus is endemic to Australia and found in all mainland states and the Northern Territory.

[4][5][8] It occurs more frequently in the drier inland parts of the continent,[4] and is thought to be opportunistic in disturbed areas such as road edges.

[5] It was first described in 1829 by Charles Gaudichaud-Beaupré as Trichinium polystachyum,[1][8] but was redescribed in 1868 by Ferdinand von Mueller as belonging to the genus Ptilotus.