Shrubs up to 1.3 m, erect, developing from a single stem at the base wit branches stout and few in number. Branchlets tomentose, purplish, much thickened near the head, thinner and more numerous in the male. Leaves of male plants up to 9 cm long, 1.8 cm broad, of female plants up to 10 cm Ion 2.3 cm broad, in both sexes lanceolate or oblanceolate, glabrous, sub-glaucous not shining, coriaceous, grass-green, sub-parallel veined, narrowing to a obtuse recurved dark red mucro at the apex with narrow red cartilagineos margins, increasing in size towards the head. Involucral leaves similar to th upper stem leaves, but more crowded, erect, closely imbricating the base of the head, becoming yellow at anthesis. Male inflorescence 3 cm long, 3.5 cm diam., cylindrical, solitary, terminal, with the flowers on the upper surface giving off a strong but pleasant smell. Basal bracts 2.1 cm long, 1.1 cm broad about 97 in number, oblanceolate, glabrous, some weakly laterally ciliate some weakly tomentose, apex obtuse reflex-adpressed, the outer often coloured, the inner oily. Floral bract 2.1 cm long, 5 mm broad, obtuse, oily, with a few hairs about the middle. Floral bud 2 cm long, glabrous except for a few hairs about the middle, cylindrical, surrounded by a few hairs at the base. Perianth tube 1.4 cm long, with a few hairs in the upper half. Claw 2.5 mm long, recurved 90°, glabrous. Limb 5.5 mm long, linear, glabrous. Anther 4.5 mm long, linear, sessile, erect. Pollen triangular in polar view with sides 41 µ long, 28 µin polar depth. Style 1.7 cm long, filiform, becoming pubescent and more stout below. Stigma abortive, 0.5 mm broad, terminal, bifid, densely clothed with short watery hairs, not acting as a pollen presenter. Hypogynous scales 5 mm long, filiform, pale. Nectar not seen. Receptacle 1.5 cm long, 1.1 cm diam., conical. Female inflorescence 2 cm long, 3 cm diam., less numerous than in the male plant, closely surrounded by the involucral leaves which are larger and more numerous than in the male plants, giving off a similar scent to the male inflorescence. Basal bracts 2.2 cm long, 1.3 cm broad, about 94 in number, oblanceolate, obtuse, strongly recurved in the upper third, coloured towards the apex, the outer somewhat pubescent and ciliate, the inner weakly laterally ciliate and oily. Floral bract 1.7 cm long, 1.1 cm broad, broadly lanceolate, glabrous, shining, densely silky-pubescent and sharply bent inwards at the base. Floral bud 1.5 cm long, linear, pubescent except at the apex, bent below, surrounded below by a tuft of hairs. Perianth tube 1.3 cm long, pubescent. Claw 1 mm long, recurved 45°, pubescent. Limb 3 mm long, spathulate, laterals concave, glabrous. Staminode rudimentary, 0.7 mm long, anterior smaller or absent. Filament 2 mm long, stout. Ovary 1.2 mm diam., ovoid, glabrous. Style 15 mm long, filiform, glabrous, somewhat thickened near the stigma. Stigma 1.3 mm broad, terminal, cleft. Hypogynous scales 4 mm long, pale, filiform. Nectar not seen. Receptacle 2.2 cm long, 1.8 cm diam., conical. Mature female head a cone, dehiscent, 5 cm long, 4 cm diam., with bracts thin and glabrous above, densely pubescent below. Fruit a nut, 7.5 mm long, 9 mm broad, 5 mm thick, biconvex, laterally ridged, glabrous except at the basal scar.
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Shrub, erect, few stout branches, 0.5-1.5 m high, dioecious. Leaves lanceolate to oblanceolate, erect, 90 x 18 mm in male plants, 100 x 23 mm in female ones, hairless, glaucous, apex with recurved dark red point, margins red, cartilaginous; involucral leaves crowded, overlapping, yellow when flowering. Male flowers in terminal, cylindrical capitula with flowers on upper surface, pleasant smell, 30 x 35 mm. Involucral bracts red, recurved, oily. Female flowers in terminal, cylindrical capitula, 20 x 30 mm, surrounded by involucral leaves. Involucral bracts ± 94, oblanceolate, recurved, outer bracts hairy, inner bracts oily. Mature capitulum 50 x 40 mm; bracts hairless above, densely hairy below. Flowering time June, July. Fruit released.
Dioecious shrub to 1.3 m. Leaves lanceolate to oblanceolate, 90-100 mm long, involucral leaves similar, yellow. Male flower heads ± 35 mm diam., female ± 30 mm diam., sweetly scented, bracts recurved, red, oily.
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