Aciphylla traversii

Detailed description

Stout, tufted, dioecious (? gynodioecious) perennial up to 1 m tall. Taproot napiform. All parts exuding yellow-resinous exudate when damaged. Leaves, numerous, dark green to brown-green with pale, white or yellow margins and yellow interstices, somewhat flaccid to semi-rigid, margins smooth. Petiole 0.1–0.25 m long, broadly sheathed near base, sheaths up to 50 mm long, stipules spinulose. Leaf lamina 0.15–0.46 × 0.15–0.8 mm, pinnate, pinnae articulated to axis, striate, coriaceous, narrow-linear, longitudinal veins often conspicuous, these interrupted by prominent yellowish cross-veinlets at 10–30 mm spacing (sometimes less, sometimes more); primary pinnae in 2–4(–6) pairs, these 100–460 mm long, 5–10 mm wide, secondary pinnae very infrequent, if present then as 2(–4) pairs, 20–30 mm long, 4–8 mm wide. Inflorescences an open panicle up to 1.0 × 0.4 m, main axis stout, and rigidly firm when fresh with fibrous outer layer and white, pithy inner, long persistent after flowering / seeds has been dispersed, inner portion hollowing and outer eventually breaking into long fibrous shards when spent. Umbels with (6–)8–10(–16), subpaniculate. Peduncules 30–60(–80) mm long stout, striate. Primary bracts up to 50 mm long, 6 mm wide, variable, often linear deltoid, broad at base gradually tapering, white in ♂ inflorescences yellow-green in ♀, submembranous, margins smooth, apices bluntly pungent; otherwise with pinkish bases, submembranous, with upper half rigid, green, pungent; upper most primary bracts often 3-foliolate, coriaceous, green pungent. ♂ umbels with 10–16(or more) rays up to 8 mm long, slender, ♀ umbels similar but with 6–8 (rarely more) rays. Involucral bracts often absent, if present lanceolate, acuminate, caducous. Flowers of ♂ (⚥?) creamy white, those of ♀ greenish yellow or pale yellow; ♂ petals 2.0–2.5(–3.0) mm long, ovate-oblong, ♀ petals 1.8–2.2 mm long, oblong. Fruit 8–10 × 6 mm long, tan, golden-brown or brown when mature, mericarps 3–5-winged, vittae 1–2 per furrow, 3–5 commissural.