Leucadendron floridum R.Br.

Shrubs up to 2 m, silvery, erect. Branches straight, villous, erect. Branch-lets villous, short, slender, scattered in more or less distinct groups at intervals on and at the apex of the main stem, withering when the head is over. Leaves equal in both sexes, 2.7 cm long, almost 5 mm broad, linear, obtuse with a small sharp mucro somewhat recurved, obtuse at the base, pubescent on both surfaces, eciliate, somewhat erect on stems, semierect on branchlets and increasing in size towards the head. Involucral leaves similar to the stem leaves, about 15 cm number, edges somewhat recurved below. Male inflorescence 1.4 cm long, 1.1 cm diam., conical when in bud, solitary, terminal, with the florets arranged in 21 or 34 ascending spirals totaling about 600 in number, giving off a faint fruity smell. Basal bracts varying in size, 1.5 cm long, 5.5 mm broad, about 11 in number, lanceolate, acute, large, yellow, conspicuous, outside villous more so towards the base, glabrous inside, ciliate, edges curled inwards towards the apex. Floral bracts 1.2 mm long, 5 mm broad, lanceolate, obtuse, with a tuft of hairs at the apex, glabrous. Floral bud 3.7 mm long, densely crisped-pubescent, glabrous on the upper surface of the slightly swollen apex, bent. Perianth tube 1.7 mm long, crisped-pubescent. Claw 1 mm long, recurved 90°, crisped-pubescent. Limb 1.2 mm long, spathulate, concave, hooked, pubescent. Anthers 0.8 mm long, almost decumbent. Pollen triangular in polar view with straight sides 30 µ long, polar depth 19 µ. Stigma abortive, 0.7 mm long, clavate, entire, acting as a pollen presenter. Style 3 mm long, filiform, thickened towards the base, glabrous except for a few hairs about one third of the way up. Hypogynous scales 1.3 mm long, filiform, extending to the throat of the perianth tube. Nectar not seen. Receptacle 1.3 cm long, 4 mm diam., clavate. Female inflorescence 1.25 cm long, 9 mm diam., ovoid, solitary, terminal, not hidden by the leaves, with florets arranged in 8 ascending spirals with about 15 cm each, giving off a faint fruity smell. Basal bracts similar to the male. Floral bracts 5.2 mm broad, 2 mm long, broadly elliptic, very obtuse at the apex, thick and fleshy, densely short-pubescent, short-ciliate, adjacent bracts not connate but lying in two spiral rows. Floral bud 2 mm long, densely pubescent with the stigma protruding at the apex at all times. Perianth tube 2 mm long, densely pubescent. Claw very short, pubescent. Limb 0.5 mm long, pubescent, scarcely exceeding the bracts, anterior truncate. Staminodes 0.25 mm long, minute, anterior absent. Ovary 1 mm long, ovoid, sparsely short-pubescent. Style 2 mm long, glabrous, much thickened below the stigma. Stigma 0.5 mm broad, terminal or semi-oblique, sometimes slightly cleft. Hypogynous scales 1.5 mm long, tapered, yellow. Nectar seen at the throat of the perianth tube. Receptacle 1.4 cm long, 3 mm diam., clavate. Mature female head a cone, up to 2.6 cm long, 2 cm diam., globose or elongated globose, glabrescent, with a distinct octagonal spiral shape, withering about 8 months after anthesis. Fruit 4.3 mm long, 3.5 mm broad, 1.5 mm thick, dark brown, trigonal, ridged on the lateral edges and down the middle, abaxial surface somewhat ventricose and pitted.