Aciphylla squarrosa var. squarrosa

Features

Usually, large plants up to 1 m tall, forming dense tussocks. Leaves numerous, 3-pinnate, spreading, subglaucous; margins and midribs crenulate-serrulate; occasionally plants may have some leaves 2-pinnate. Sheaths erect, whitish, fleshy except membranous margins, up to 150 x 50 mm; stipules with petiolate bases approximately 20 x 10 mm, unequal, 3-foliolate, outer segments up to 200 mm, inner to 60 mm, terminal to 250 mm long, pungent; petiolar or ligular portion sometimes up to about 40mm long. Petioles up to about 150 mm x 1-2 mm, internodes up to 50 mm long. Primary pinnae usually 1 pair, again pinnate, internodes about 30 mm long; secondary pinnae usually 1 pair, again pinnate, sometimes bearing accessory pinnules; final segments up to 250 mm x 4 mm, concavo-convex, with long pungent points. Flowering stems of male plants ridged; up to approximately 80 cm x 20 mm including inflorescence up to approximately 40 cm long. Bracts numerous; sheaths pale, membranous, ridged, up to 40 x 10 mm, tapering to apex; stipules unequal, up to 30 x 1 mm. Lamina 3-foliolate; lateral pair of leaflets up to approximately 90 mm long; terminal leaflet to 200-250 x 3 mm, stiff, pungent, becoming strongly reflexed. Umbels on stout peduncles up to approximately 60-100 mm long, usually with lateral umbellules near base as well as at apex, up to about 40 mm diameter. Umbellules crowded, forming heads approximately 20 mm diameter; rays numerous, about 10 mm long. Flowering stems of female plants up to 100 cm tall including inflorescence up to approximately 60 cm tall. Bract-sheaths thin, ribbed; lower approximately 50 x 20 mm, stipules unequal, 40-80-(150) mm long. Lamina of lower sheaths pinnate, with occasionally accessory pinnules; petiole flat, about 10 mm long, internodes up to 20 mm long; pinnae 2 pairs; terminal leaflet up to 150 mm long, at length strongly reflexed. Umbels approximately 8, on stout peduncles approximately 50 mm long bearing lateral umbellules near base; involucral bracts linear. Umbellules up to 10, approximately 15 mm diameter, on short rays. Petals pale yellow. Fruit approximately 6-8 mm long; mericarps 3-4 winged.