Leucadendron brunioides Meisn.

Shrubs up to 2 m high usually c. 0.5 m with many stems arising from a persistent rootstock, dense, erect. Branches slender, glabrous, numerous, erect, roughened by the leaf scars, in male plants somewhat shorter and more slender. Branchlets slender, glabrous, numerous, erect, often whorled, clothed with evenly spaced leaves but not hidden by them. Leaves up to 2.3 cm long, 1.7 mm broad, (those of male plants often smaller), linear, glabrous, thick, flattened above, sub-erect, obtuse with a small blunt callus at the apex, dried leaves sub-canaliculate. Male inflorescence variable in size up to 1.1 cm long, 1.7 cm dia., depressed globose, numerous, solitary at the ends of small branchlets, not hidden by the leaves, foetid. Basal bracts 5 mm long, 2 mm broad, about 46 cm number, lanceolate, acute, ciliate, sparsely pubescent on the midrib, becoming brown towards the apex. Floral bracts 4.5 mm long, 1.5 mm broad, oblanceolate, acute, brown or purplish at the apex, long-ciliate in the upper half, very densely long-white-silky pubescent. Floral bud 7 mm long, curved, short-white-silky pubescent, apex acute, surrounded at the base by a few long hairs. Perianth tube 4 mm long, sparsely pubescent above, glabrous below. Claw 2 mm long, recurved 180° and more, silky pubescent. Limb 1.5 mm long, acute, concave, pubescent. Anther 1 mm long, curled upwards, connective dusky. Pollen triangular in polar view with sides 35 µ long, and polar depth 21 µ. Stigma abortive, 0.8 mm long, clavate, minutely cleft, acting as a pollen presenter. Style 7 mm long, sparsely villous below, glabrous and narrowing above. Hypogynous scales 2 mm long, pale, filiform. Nectar seen at the throat of the perianth tube. Receptacle 8 mm long, 3 mm dia., cylindrical. Female inflorescence about 1.1 cm dia., globose, solitary, terminal, foetid, not hidden by the leaves, florets arranged in 8 spiral rows of 4 or 5 in each. Basal bracts variable, mostly 6 mm long, 2.5 mm broad, in number about 20, lanceolate, acute, ciliate, some pubescent on the midrib, becoming brown towards the apex. Floral bracts 4 mm long, 5 mm broad, broadly ovate, long-ciliate, densely pubescent. Floral bud 7 mm long, curved, transversely compressed, protruding beyond the bract, densely silky pubescent above with a small acute tuft of hairs at the apex, glabrous below, surrounded at the base by a tuft of hairs. Perianth segments imbricated, forming a tube 4 mm long, pubescent in the upper third. Claw 1 mm long, pubescent. Limb 1 mm long, pubescent. Staminode 0.7 mm long, linear, somewhat curved upwards. Ovary 1 mm long, ovoid, densely long-silky pubescent. Style 4.5 mm long, erect, glabrous, filiform. Stigma 0.3 mm dia., truncate, sub-oblique, somewhat cleft. Hypogynous scales 2.5 mm long, acicular, tapered. Nectar seen at the throat of the perianth tube. Receptacle 1 cm long, 2 mm dia., clavate. Mature female head dehiscent, up to 1.8 cm dia., globose, with bracts silky white pubescent. Fruit 5 mm long, 4 mm diameter, obovoid, apiculate, somewhat mottled, villous or almost glabrous, with a small median keel.