Shrub to 1.7 m across, with fire-tolerant underground stems. Stems rusty-tomentose; prophylls many but not imbricate, broadly ovate, to 6 mm long. Leaves: petiole 2-4 cm long, tomentose; lamina deeply pinnatipartite, pinnatisect in lower part of lamina, 20-35 cm long, 5-13 cm wide; margins revolute; lobes 20-30 each side, linear, acute, pungent, twisted so that adaxial surface is uppermost, closely curled-tomentose below where prominently 3-nerved and reticulate. Inflorescence terminal, subtended by leaves; involucral bracts ovate to lanceolate, acute, dark rusty-villous; innermost bracts 35-40 mm long; flowers c. 65 per head. Perianth 40-47 mm long, pale pink at base, creamy brown above, curled-tomentose above base, grading to appressed-pubescent with straight hairs in upper claw and limb; limb 11-13 mm long, acute. Pistil 39-45 mm long, cream, sparsely hairy at base; pollen presenter narrower than style, 8-11 mm long, ribbed, yellow. Follicles obliquely obovate, 18-19 mm long, sparsely hairy.
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