Acanthopsis scullyi (S.Moore) Oberm.

Perennial, acaulescent herb or compact subshrub, 10-15 cm tall with very short internodes. Leaves sessile, petiole-like base with spines 1-2 mm long; lamina oblanceolate, 55-105 x 10-15(-18) mm, pubescent to villose with long, silky hairs, occasionally interspersed with long glandular hairs; apex acute, base attenuate, margin undulate, coarsely dentate-spinose, spines fine to rigid, 1-3 mm long, yellowish. Inflorescences usually lax (bract lamina overlap <30%), cylindrical, subsessile with a number of infertile bracts at the base; 80-120(-150) mm long, 8-10(-12) mm in diameter. Bracts obovate to broadly obovate, (16-)18-22 mm long (including spines), lamina 10-12(-14) mm long, base obtuse; villose with antrorse (often spreading) long, silky hairs interspersed with short hairs and occasionally also with glandular hairs; middle and upper bracts ending in 5 primary spines, 3 central primary spines usually broadly triangular; central primary spine nearly always compound with 1 or 2 pairs of short, marginal secondary spines (prickles); lateral primary spines usually with 1 short marginal secondary spine on side facing central primary spine, occasionally also with 1 short, marginal secondary spine on opposite side; primary spines spreading in flower and fruit. Bracteoles linear, 6-8(-9) mm long, silky-hairy, also with long, glandular hairs. Calyx with dorsal sepal lanceolate to ovate, acuminate, 12-14 mm long, silky-hairy, often also with long, glandular hairs, 5-7-veined; ventral sepal lanceolate to narrowly ovate, 11-13 mm long, silky-hairy, 5(-7)-veined; lateral sepals 8-10 mm long, densely silky-hairy especially at base. Flowers clearly decussate; corolla cream to light mauve with lilac veins, cream throat, (21-)25-31 x (8-)9-11 mm, tube 8-10 mm long, pubescent, central lobe often square (as wide as long), not or only slightly constricted at the base, truncate to emarginate. Filaments 7-8(-10) mm long, glandular; anthers beige, 3 mm long. Style with patch of glandular hairs at the base. Capsules 8-9 x 4 mm. Seeds 4 x 2 mm.