Aciphylla ferox

Detailed description

A massive bright green plant growing up to 1 m tall, as single clumps or in small groups. Leaves subflabellately pinnate, 2-4 pairs, up to approximately 40 cm long. Sheaths thick, coriaceous, about 70 x 30 mm, tapering to about 20 mm. Stipules rigid, approximately 150 x 40 mm, tapering to rigid pungent tips. Petioles slightly concavo-convex, striate, approximately 100-150 x 15 mm, tapering to about 10 mm; margins cartilaginous, smooth. Lowest internodes up to approximately 30 mm long. Primary pinnae straight or nearly so, erect, lowest approximately 150 x 10-15 mm, with base about 7 mm wide, expanding to greatest width at the middle, then tapering to pungent point; midrib usually rather obscure, margins serrulate-crenulate. Flowering stems very stout, grooved; male plants with inflorescence approximately 75 cm long; bracts verticillate, lower whorl empty, about 150 mm distant from next whorl. Sheath submembranous, ribbed, approximately 90 x 10 mm, gradually tapering to about 6 mm. Stipules unequal, stiff, up to approximately 70 x 2 mm, pungent; central leaflet up to approximately 200 x 4 mm. Upper bracts rigid; sheaths very coriaceous, approximately 30 x 5 mm; stipules usually absent; leaflet rigid, approximately 50 x 3 mm, midrib evident. Umbels numerous, on stout striate peduncles up to approximately 80-100 x 2-3 mm, bearing at intervals small umbels; main umbels on stiff rays up to approximately 30 mm long, with narrow lanceolate involucral bracts about 5 mm long. Umbellules on spreading rays up to 10 mm long, about 5 mm diameter. Fruit approximately 4 mm long.