Anthospermum bicorne Puff

Dwarf shrub or subshrub, ('bisexual'), ('bisexual') ± ('female') or('female'), many-stemmed, usually ± erect. Stems (100-)200-550 mm long, sparsely to ± much branched, branches ascending to erect, not densely leafy. Leaves decussate, pseudoverticillate; blades erect or ascending, (6.5-)8-16(-19) x 0.4-0.5 mm, linear, needle-like, mostly ± triangular to ± semiterete in section, glabrous or margins (often lower third only)very shortly hairy; petioles 0; stipular sheath with a minute seta. Flowers subsessile, in clusters of 2-6 at nodes; corolla 5-merous, yellowish or purplish outside, papillate or shortly hairy mostly near tip ('bisexual'): tube 0.8-1.3 mm long, funnel-shaped, lobes 1.7-2.5 x 0.4-0.7 mm; anthers 1.6-2.4 mm long; style c. 0.7-0.8 mm long; stigmas 2, c. 2.5-4 mm long; ovary with only one fertile carpel, 0.8-1.5 x 0.5-0.7 mm, densely hairy; reduced carpel with 2 large, fertile lobes with 3 minute, indistinct calyx lobes ('female'): tube(0.1-)0.3-0.4 mm long, lobes 0.3-0.6 x 0.1-0.2 mm; gynoecium as in('bisexual')but stigmas to 6.5 mm long. Fruit reddish brown to greyish; fertile mericarp 2.5-3.5 x 1-1.7 mm, ± ovate, sometimes distinctly curved lengthwise, densely covered with white spreading hairs 0.5-0.5 mm long, sometimes with 3 minute calyx lobes c. 0.1-0.4 mm long; reduced carpel ± strap-like, c. 2.5-3.5 x 0.6-0.8 mm, less hairy than fertile one or glabrous, with 2 large, ± divaricate calyx lobes 1.4-2 x 0.2-0.4 mm.