Sprawling or scrambling glabrous perennial shrub forming tangled masses to 2 m. high, densely branched with branchlets eventually ± parallel to the main branches; branches and branchlets ± 1 cm. thick, green, with leaf-scars made prominent by the formation of a dark brown callus developed as the leaf falls.. Leaves sessile, lanceolate, to ± 18 × 5 mm., becoming reflexed, caducous.. Cymes in 3–7-branched umbels surrounding a central cyathium, with simple rays to 2 cm. long; bracts broadly deltoid, to 5 mm. long, caducous.. Cyathia on peduncles to 2 mm. long, ± 3.5 × 10 mm., with broadly funnel-shaped involucres, but twice as large in the deciduous central cyathium which develops only ♂ flowers; glands 4, or 7–8 in the central cyathium, circular to transversely elliptic, to 3.5 × 5 mm., golden yellow; lobes broadly triangular, 1 × 2 mm., with apex deeply notched, margin finely ciliate.. Male flowers: bracteoles very numerous, spathulate, apices plumose; stamens 4.5 mm. long.. Female flower: ovary pedicellate; styles ± 3 mm. long, joined at the base with spreading thickened apices bifid for 1 mm.. Capsule obtusely 3-lobed, to ± 1 × 1.5 cm., exserted on a reflexed pedicel ± 1 cm. long.. Seeds ovoid, ± 4 × 3.3 mm., grey, faintly rugulose, with a caruncle 1.5 mm. across.. Fig. 89/3.
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