Aciphylla traillii

Detailed description

Rootstock rather slender, simple or branched, plants forming small tufts up to 20 cm tall including inflorescence; taproot rather stout. Leaves rather flaccid, becoming rather rigid when dry, up to approximately 150 mm long. Sheath narrow, thin, approximately 50 × 7 mm; stipules unequal, up to 30 × 2 mm. (rarely vestigial); petioles approximately 20 mm long; internodes obsolete or up to 10 mm long. Lamina of 1 pinna, or sometimes with 1 or 2 pairs of secondary pinnae. Primary lamina up to more or less 50 × 2-3 mm, coriaceous: midrib rather prominent, margins thickened, apex pungent. Secondary pinnae similar but shorter. Stems of male plants rather slender, up to approximately 80 mm long including inflorescence approximately 40 mm diameter. Bract-sheaths inflated, approximately 20 mm long; stipules about 10 mm long; lamina about 20 mm long. Umbels rather lax, forming an open panicle; rays short, slender. Secondary umbels few, approximately 5 mm diameter, approximately distant, on short capillary rays. Stems of female plants slender to rather stout, grooved, up to 100 mm long. Bract-sheaths broad, generally 20 × 5 mm; stipules short or absent, lamina short. Umbels nearly concealed by bract-sheaths; Secondary umbels very small, rays very short, filiform, Fruit approximately 3 mm long, mericarps with 5 winged ribs, vittae 1-(2) per furrow, 2-4 commissural.