Anthospermum paniculatum Cruse

Dwarf shrub or subshrub, ± dioecious ('male' plants occasionally with some, rarely with numerous 'bisexual' flowers), few to several-stemmed; with numerous erect, mostly unbranched flowering stems from a woody base, if burnt regularly. Stems (100-)150-400(-700) mm long, erect to ascending, less commonly decumbent and sometimes basal portions rooting at nodes, branches erect to ± spreading. Leaves decussate, pseudoverticillate; blades 5-12(-17) x (0.3-)0.5-2.5(-4) mm, linear, lanceolate to narrowly obovate, seldom (in fire-exposed individuals) ± broadly oblanceolate or obovate, glabrous or sometimes ± papillate on upper surface and/or midrib below; petioles ±0-0.5 mm long; stipular sheath with a small 3-angular to subulate seta. Flowers in terminal thyrsic or thyrso-paniculate, ± narrowly cylindrical inflorescence, peduncles (0.8-)1.2-3 mm long, pedicels to 0.7 mm long, slightly elongating in fruit; corolla 4-merous, creamy yellow to yellow or greenish, glabrous. 'Male' ('bisexual'): tube 0.8-1.2(-1.7) mm long, funnel-shaped, lobes 2.2-2.7 x 0.5-1.1 mm; anthers 1.5-2.2 mm long; 'male': ± prominent rudimentary ovary with 4 ± massive calyx lobes, often also rudimentary stigmas present; 'bisexual': gynoecium as in 'female'. 'Female': tube ±0-0.3 mm long, lobes 0.5-0.6 x 0.1-0.2 mm, corolla sometimes absent altogether; style 0-0.6 mm long; stigmas 2, (3-)4-8 mm long, reddish to reddish purplish; ovary 1.5-2.4 x 0.9-1.6 mm, with conspicuous calyx lobes. Fruit brown; mericarps 2.5-3.5(-4) x 1.7-2 mm, oblong to ± rectangular or ± obvate, often with two faint ribs below 2 ± triangular, often massive calyx lobes 0.5-1.2(2.2) x 0.4-1 mm.