Aciphylla divisa

Detailed description

Tufted herb up to 40 cm tall, densely surrounded by dead leaf-sheaths. Sheath up to 80 x 15 mm, submembranous; stipules very slender, approximately 20 mm long, pungent; petioles concavo-convex to flat, about 50-60 mm long; lowest internodes approximately 20 mm long, upper very short. Primary pinnae 4-8 pairs, 40-70 mm x 3 mm, tapering to pungent point, margins thickened. Secondary pinnae up to about 50 mm long; tertiary pinnae 1 pair, approximately 20-30 mm long, pale and swollen at base as are secondary pairs. Flowering stems of male plants up to 50 cm x 9 mm, usually smaller, ending in corymbose inflorescence up to approximately 100 mm diameter. Lower bracts up to approximately 120 mm long, often empty; sheath about 40 x 10 mm; stipules up to 10 x 2 mm, acicular; lamina 3-2-1-pinnate, leaflets up to 40 mm x 1-1.5 mm, acicular. Umbels forming heads up to 60 mm diameter, on slender rays up to 5 cm. long; umbellules rather crowded, rays several, very slender. Flowering stems of female plants ending in globose panicle up to approximately 100 mm diameter. Lower bracts involucrate; sheaths broad; stipules long, subulate, pungent; lamina linear, similar to stipules. Umbels on rays up to approximately 25 mm long; umbellules with very slender short rays. Fruit approximately 4 mm long.