Lasiospermum brachyglossum Dc.

Erect, rarely ascending, annual herbs, 100-400 mm high. Stems branched or unbranched from the base, all ending in inflorescences. Leaves alternate, sometimes rosulate at base; petioles of basal leaves well developed, with stipule-like appendages; appendages irregularly dentate; lamina pinnatisect to bipinnatisect, entire on flowering shoots, 15-50 x 10-30 mm; lobes of second order linear, 0.5-1.0 mm in diameter, sometimes semifalcate, mucronate with a hard white mucro. Capitula heterogamous radiate, in panicles or racemes with oldest capitula terminal and younger ones proximal, semiglobose when young, up to 5 mm in diameter, in fruiting stage almost globose, up to 15 mm in diameter; distal part of peduncle glabrous. Involucral bracts in 3 or 4 rows, imbricate, broadly membranous, 1.5-2.5 x 1.0-1.5 mm, glabrous, apex obtuse, outer bracts relatively narrow, linear, inner ones ovate. Receptacle conical. Marginal paleae ovate, central paleae lanceolate with arista which is the continuation of the main vein, main vein distinctly yellow-brown, rest of palea transparent, membranous, 1.2-1.8 x 0.8-1.2 mm. Ray florets 12-20, female, strap-shaped; corolla red-purple to red-purple with yellow distal part, rarely completely yellow, very short, 1 mm long, rarely up to 3.5 x 1.6 mm, 3-dentate, cuneate. Style branches linear, 0.1-0.2 mm long. Ovary oblong-ovoid. Disc florets 130-150, bisexual; corolla tubular, 5-dentate(-lobed), pure yellow to yellow with red-purple margin, up to 2.5 mm long. Stamens 5. Style branches linear, truncate, with sweeping hairs at apex. Ovary oblong; ovaries of both ray and disc florets with dense, woolly indumentum after anthesis, hairs septate. Flowering time: July to November, with a peak from July to September.