Anisotome lyallii

Detailed description

Perennial herb up to 0.8 m tall. Basal leaves on petioles 10–150 × 15–100 mm; sheaths 3–130 × 15–40 mm (sheaths of cauline leaves inflated); lamina oblanceolate to oblong, 0.10–0.45 × 0.02–0.13 m, 2–3-pinnate; primary leaflets 5–10 pairs, rhomboid, deltoid to ovate, shortly petiolate, coriaceous; secondary leaflets spathulate to rhomboid, sometimes ovate; leaflet margins not thickened, often pinnatifid, rarely deeply incised into broad or narrow, toothed segments; teeth obtuse to acute, not piliferous. Inflorescence up to 0.9 m tall and 10 mm diameter at the first node; peduncles 20–150 mm long. Flowers dirty white to white. Staminate plants: involucre comprising several linear to lanceolate bracts, 4–18 × 0.5–2.5 mm; involucel of several linear bracteoles 2–10 × 0.25–1 mm; rays 10–35, 5–25 mm long; pedicels 10–30, 1–5 mm long. Carpellate plants: involucre of several linear to lanceolate bracts 5–25 × 0.5–5 mm, the bracts sometimes bearing reduced blade at the tip; involucel of several linear bracteoles 2–10 × 0.5–1.5 mm; rays 4–30, 5–30 mm long; pedicels 5–25, 1–7 mm long; styles slender, 1–2 mm long, divergent to divaricate. Mericarps narrowly elliptic to elliptic, ovate or elliptic-ovate, 4.0–7.5 mm long; apex usually slightly narrowed; base obtuse to truncate; 5-ribbed, ribs even, equal, thin, narrowly winged, opaque or translucent at margin; surface dull, ribs orange, orange-brown or dark brown, vittae visible or partially obscured, red-brown or dark brown.