Anisotome latifolia

Detailed description

Robust perennial herb reaching up to 2 m tall. Basal leaves firmly coriaceous, ovate 0.3–0.6 × 0.1–0.2 dm; 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 × 7.0–15.0 mm, subterete, with a central ridge on the somewhat flattened adaxial surface; sheaths 50–80 × 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 × 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 × 1–2 mm; involucel of several linear to lanceolate bracteoles 3.0–7.0 × 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 × 1–5 mm, involucel bracteoles linear to lanceolate 2.0–10.0 × 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.