Aciphylla takahea

Detailed description

Medium-sized densely formed tussock. Leaves 2-pinnate, of male plants approximately 250 mm; of female plants approximately 400 mm long; margins and midribs serrulate-crenulate, tips pungent. Sheaths up to 50 × 30 mm, tapering to 15 mm; stipules 3-2-1-foliolate, on ligules up to 10 mm long; lowest central lamina up to 50 × 1.5 mm. Petioles approximately 50 mm long, concavo-convex, midrib stout; lower internodes approximately 40 mm long. Primary pinnae 2-5 pairs, the lower ones 3-foliolate, approximately 100 × 3-(5) mm. Secondary pinnae up to 50 mm long, flat, striate, pungent. Flowering stems of male plants approximately 600 × 5 mm, including inflorescence approximately 400 mm long. Lower bracts usually empty, up to 60 mm long; sheaths about 30 × 8 mm, submembranous; stipules unequal, to 15 mm long, pungent. Lamina approximately 30 mm long, more or less 3-foliolate. Male umbels approximately 30 mm diameter on slender rays; involucral bracts capillary; umbellules more or less 10-flowered, on very short capillary rays. Flowering stems of female plants approximately 1000 × 20 mm including inflorescence, approximately 500 mm long, oblong-lanceolate. Lower bracts usually empty, approximately 80 mm long; sheaths approximately 40 × 10 mm, coriaceous; stipules simple to trifoliolate, segments pungent, up to 40 mm long. Lamina more or less trifoliolate to simple in uppermost bracts. Female umbels about 50 mm diameter, on slender rays; involucral bracts capillary. Umbellules usually up to 10-flowered, on very short slender rays. Fruit approximately 8 mm long, broadly winged, with 3-4 narrowly winged ribs, vittae present.