Aciphylla montana var. gracilis

Detailed description

Rosettes up to 5 per plant, each up to 250 mm diameter. Leaves coriaceous, yellow-green, up to 230 mm long, with 2(-3) leaflets, usually in one plane; sheath 80 x 5-15 mm, sheath joint obscure; stipules up to 70 x 1 mm, shorter than to almost as long as the petiole; petiole up to 90 x 3 mm, more or less convex above, margins rounded, pulvinus evident, up to 12 mm long, lamina more or less obtriagnular in outline, lowermost leaflet up to 130 x 2.5-4 mm, apex acute, spine 2 mm long, midrib obscure, marginrib 0.2 mm wide, veins not raised. Inflorescences narrow. Female inflorescence up to 400 mm long, with a stem 490 x 11 mm, yellow-orange; head 140 x 30 mm, more or less lanceolate in outline; compound umbels 20-25, arranged in 5-7 whorls, the terminal umbel smaller than the lower laterals; lower bracts 80 mm long, with a sheath up to 35 x 9 mm, stipules and 1-2 pairs fo leaflets; upper bracts smaller and simple with stipules. Lower compound umbels up to 35 mm long with peduncles up to 20 x 2 mm, occasionally sessile, primary bracteoles minute, simple umbels up to 6 with peduncles up to 12 x 0.7 mm, the innermost umbels sessile; secondary bracteoles simple, 7 x 1 mm; up to 15 flowers per umbel, pedicels up to 2.5 x 0.2 mm. Sepals up to 0.3 mm; petals up to 1 x 0.5 mm, not inflexed; staminodes up to 0.5 mm long. Male inflorescences up to 520 mm , stem 270 x 12 mm, yellow-orange; head 260 x 80 mm, lanceolate in outline; compound umbels up to 38, in 5-7 whorls, the terminal umbel smaller than the lower laterals; bracts similar to those of the female; lower compound umbels up to 80 mm long, usually as a whorl of 2 simple umbels on the peduncles, this up to 70 x 2 mm; up to 13 simple umbels with peduncles 12 x 0.4 mm, bearing up to 15 flowers per umbel, pedicels 2 x 0.1 mm. Sepals 0.3 mm; petals 1.2 x 0.8 mm, not inflexed; stamens up to 2 mm long. Mericarps 4.5 x 0.5 mm, dull pale brown, lateral ribs < 0.5 mm wide; style up to 1.2 mm.