Anisotome latifolia

Features

Robust perennial herb reaching up to 2 m tall. Basal leaves firmly coriaceous, ovate 0.3-0.6 x 0.1-02 m; 2-pinnate, leaflets in 5-7 pairs, dark green to yellow-green, ovate to lanceolate, shortly petiolulate or sessile;leaflet margins cartilaginous, pinnatifid or deeply incised into broad toothed or incised segments; teeth acute, piliferous with hairs 2.0-3.5 mm long; petioles 0.15-0.3m x 7.0-15.0 mm, subterete, with a central ridge on the somewhat flattened adaxial surface; sheaths 50-80 x 35-50 mm, prolonged at the apex into two broad lobes free from the petioles by 2-3 mm; cauline leaf sheaths markedly inflated; peduncles 20-150 mm long. Inflorescence axis up to 2 m by 10-15 mm diameter at first node. Flowers off white to pale creamy pink. Staminate flowers held within an involucre of linear to lanceolate bracts 5-15 x 1-2 mm; involucel of several linear to lanceolate bracteoles 3.0-7.0 x 0.5-1.5 mm; rays 20-40, 5-20 mm long; pedicels 20-40, 2-5 mm long. Pistillate flowers similar, involucre bracts linear to broadly lanceolate, 10-35 x 1-5 mm, involucel bracteoles linear to lanceolate 2.0-10.0 x 0.5-2.0 mm, rays 20-40, 10-35 mm long, pedicels 15-30, 1-5 mm long; styles slender, 1-2 mm long, divergent. Mericarp elliptic, elliptic-ovate, elliptic-oblong or narrowly elliptic, 3.5-5.5-7.0 mm long; apex usually slightly narrowed and obtuse, sometimes rounded, base obtuse to truncate; 2-5-ribbed; ribs usually even, sometimes irregular, equal thin, finely winged with a narrow hyaline margin. Surface dull; ribs yellow, dark yellow or orange; vittae usually obscured in mature mericarps, if visible dark red-brown.