Aciphylla glaucescens

Detailed description

Large, tufted tussock forming clumps as single or several plants up to 1.5 m tall. Leaves 2-3-pinnate, glaucous or greyish green, flaccid, up to 1.5 m long; margins serrulate-crenulate, tapering to pungent apex approximately 5 mm long. Sheath up to 20 cm or more long, approximately 7 cm at base. Stipules 3-1-foliolate, central leaflet stout, 30-100 mm long with sheaths up to 50 x 20 mm. Petioles ribbed, up to approximately 350 mm x 15 mm, smooth; petiolules up to 100 mm long; lower internodes approximately 50 mm long. Primary pinnae up to 200 mm x 4-5 mm; secondary pinnae up to 200 mm x 4 mm; terminal leaflet up to 450 mm long (sometimes not developed). Flowering stems of male plants strongly ribbed, 1.5-2 m x 7 cm. Inflorescences up to approximately 40 cm long, narrow-oblong, tapering. Bracts numerous, starting from near base of stem; sheaths yellow, 50-120 mm x 4 mm; stipules pinnate to simple, up to 50 mm long; lamina 3-1-pinnate, of lower bracts up to 40 cm long, not reflexed. Umbels exceeding bracts, on rather slender peduncles bearing umbellules near base and at apex; involucral bracts linear. Flowering stems of female plants up to 2 m tall; bracts partly concealing umbels; involucral bracts narrow-lanceolate, approximately 8 mm long; inflorescence generally similar to that of male, but denser. Fruit approximately 6-9.5 mm long, mericarps with 3-4(-5) wings.