Anthospermum littoreum L.Bolus

Shrub, dioecious or ± dioecious ('male' plants occasionally with odd 'bisexual' flowers), ± procumbent, somewhat straggling or ± erect, at least older parts often deeply buried in sand. Stems c. 0.5-3 m long, mostly much-branched, branches spreading to ± ascending, buried parts often rooting at nodes. Leaves decussate, pseudoverticillate; blades (6-)8-15(-20) x (2-)2.5-5(-7) mm, obovate, oblanceolate, oblong to ± elliptic, ± thick and fleshy in nature, glabrous or lowermost part of midrib below hairy, often ± discolourous; petioles ±0-1.5 mm long; stipular sheath with a small seta. Flowers mostly subsessile, in clusters of several (to many: 'female') at nodes, inflorescences often ± conspicuous in 'female'; corolla 4-merous, creamy yellow, yellow to greenish yellow, hairy on outside at least near base ('male') or glabrous ('female'). 'Male' 'bisexual': tube (0.3-)0.4-0.6(-0.8) mm long, broadly funnel-shaped to subcampanulate, lobes 2-2.4 x 0.6-0.8(-1) mm; anthers 1.7-2 mm long; minute, densely hairy rudimentary ovary present. 'Female': tube c. 0.3-0.7(-1) mm long, lobes 0.2-0.5(-0.7) x 0.2 mm; style ±0-1 mm long; stigmas 2, (3-)4-6, 7(-10) mm long; ovary c. 0.8-1.2 mm long, densely hairy, with 4 minute calyx lobes. Fruit greyish brown or greyish; mericarps (1.7-)2-3(-3.5) x (0.7-)1-1.4(-1.8) mm, oblong to ± elliptic, densely covered with whitish spreading hairs c. (0.2-)0.4-0.8 mm long, with 2 ± triangular calyx lobes c. 0.1-0.4 x 0.1-0.2 mm, usually hidden amongst hairs.