A tufted herb with a large woody rootstock. It grows 10-90 cm tall. There are many roots each with a long root tuber. The stems grow each year. It has many leaves and the leaves get smaller up the stem. The leaves do not have leaf stalks. The leaves are 3-15 cm long by 0.2 cm wide. They have a spine at the tip. The flowers are yellow.
It is a tropical plant. It can tolerate fires and grows in high altitudes grassland and woodlands. It can be on rocky outcrops and shallow stony soils. In Zimbabwe it grows between 1,200-2,100 m above sea level.
Home