Aciphylla similis

Detailed description

Rosettes clustered in groups of 10 or more, up to 200 mm diameter. Leaves up to 230 mm long, yellow-green, more or less rhombic on outline, coriaceous, with 6-7(or more) leaflet pairs, mainly in one plane; sheath 60 x 6-15 mm, sheath joint evident; stipules 40 x 1 mm, petiole 80 x 4 mm, concave or flat above, margins rounded, pulvinus up to 5 mm long, conspicuous; lowermost leaflet up to 65 x 3-3.5 mm, apex acute, spine 2 mm long, midrib obscure, marginrib 0.2 mm wide, veins scarcely raised. Inflorescences broad. Female inflorescence up to 400 mm long, stem 300 x 5.5 mm, yellow or brown, head 100 x 90 mm, profile somewhat obdeltate; compound umbels up to 14, arranged in 2-3 whorls, with the terminal umbel the largest ; lower bracts 55 mm long with a subtending sheath 23 x 6 mm, stipules and 2 pairs of leaflets; upper bracts smaller, undivided with stipules. Lower compound umbels up to 80 mm long, peduncles 60 x 1 mm, primary bracteoles simple, 10 x 0.5 mm; simple umbels 7 or less, peduncles 16 x 1 mm; secondary bracteoles simple, 6 x 0.5 mm, bearing 12 or less flowers per umbel, pedicels 3 x 0.2 mm. Sepals 0.6 mm; petals 1.2 x 0.6 mm, cream or pale yellow, not inflexed; staminodes 0.3 mm long. Male inflorescences 300 mm or less, stem 170 x 4 mm, yellow; head 130 x 90 mm, ovate, more or less terete; compound umbels about 10, 2-3 whorled, terminal umbel > than lower laterals; bracts similar to female inflorescences; lower compound umbels 90 mm or less, peduncles 70 x 2 mm; primary bracteoles 15 x 1.5 mm; 15 or less, undivided, peduncles 10 x 1 mm; secondary bracteoles 5 x 0.2 mm; umbels bearing 15 or less flowers; pedicels 3 x 0.1 mm or less. Sepals 0.6 mm; petals 1.5 x 1 mm or less, cream or pale yellow, not inflexed; stamens 2 mm long. Mericarps 4.2 x 1.6 mm, dull pale brown, lateral ribs 0.3 mm wide; style up to 1.3 mm long.