Berkheya cruciata Willd.

Frutex erectus ramosus squarrosus fide collect. cr. 30-120 cm altus. Rami patentes, glabri, usque ad capitula ± aequaliter foliati. Folia alterna, coriacea, rigida, sessilia, semiamplexicaulia, cordati-ovata, in spinam 3-5 mm longam acuminata, margine spinosi-dentata dentibus in 3-5 iugis dispositis interdum geminatis spinis inclusis 5-10 mm longis basin folii versus decres-centibus et semper solitariis, (in ssp. subintegra folia suprema plerumque integerrima), spinis inclusis (2-)3-5 cm longa, 1.5-3 cm lata supremis sensim minoribus, supra et subtus glabra. Capitula in inflorescentiam subcorymbiformem disposita, radiata, involucri squamis expansis 3.5-5 cm diam. Involucri squamae patentes, glabrae, lineari-lanceolatae vel lineari-subulatae, in ssp. subintegra triangulati-lanceolatae, 1.5-5 mm latae, spinosi-acuminatae, margine spinis obsitae, in ssp. subintegra inermes vel subinermes. mediae 15-20 mm longae, ceterae breviores. Margines alveolarum receptaculi in dentes breves productae. Achaenia cr. 1.5-2.5 mm longa, pilis sericeis dense obtecta. Pappi squamae uniseriatae, cr. 10-15 (interdum singulae connatae), oblongae vel obovati-lanceolatae, acutae vel subobtusae, denticulatae, 0.5-1 mm longae.