Leucadendron sericeum R.Br.

Shrubs up to 1 m tall, diffuse, branching from near the ground. Branches very slender, numerous, less so in the female plant, erect, rather thinly short-pubescent becoming glabrous when old. Leaves of male plants up to 9 mm long, 2 mm broad, usually much less, of female plants somewhat larger up to 1.5 cm long, 2.5 mm broad, erect, narrowly oblanceolate, apex acute with a small blunt red callus, narrowing towards the base, thinly adpressed-pubes-cent but not silvery. No conspicuous involucre. Male inflorescence solitary at the ends of small branchlets and also in groups with several axiliary heads crowded together, up to 8 mm long, 1.1 cm diam., giving off a strong sweet smell. Basal bracts 3.5 mm long, 2 mm broad, about 76 cm number, the outermost sub-cordate, becoming broadly lanceolate, acute, reddened towards the apex, sparsely short-pubescent, short-ciliate, with adjacent bracts in 2 spiral rows. Floral bract 3-2.2 mm long, 0.7-0.3 mm broad, linear, apex reddened and very short-ciliate, pubescent in the upper two thirds. Floral bud 7 mm long, densely short-crisped-pubescent, base surrounded by a tuft of hairs. Perianth tube 5 mm long, crisped-pubescent, becoming deflexed, connate with the style. Claw 1.2 mm long, recurved 180°, pubescent. Limb 1.3 mm long, acute, pubescent. Anther 0.7 mm long, slightly curling upwards. Pollen triangular in polar view with sides 35 µ long, polar depth 20µ. Stigma abortive 0.7 mm long, clavate, minutely cleft, acting as a pollen presenter. Style 1.2 mm long, connate with the perianth tube for a further 5 mm below. No hypogynous scales. No nectar seen. Receptacle 4 mm long, 1 mm diam., clavate, acute. Female inflorescence up to 1.9 cm long, 1.3 cm diam., globose with the yellow florets clustered at the apex, solitary at the ends of erect branchlets or with several axiliary heads clustered around the base of the terminal head, not hidden by the leaves, giving off a strong sweet smell. Basal bracts 8.5 mm long, 4 mm broad, about 165 cm number, subcaudate at first becoming lanceolate, acute, reddened towards the apex, the apical callus oblong and raised on the adaxial surface, long-ciliate and densely villous in the upper two thirds, closely imbricating the base and sides of the head. Floral bract 6 mm long, 3.5 mm broad, ovate, acute, very densely silky villous. Floral bud 1 cm long, very densely silky villous, surrounded by long hairs at the base. Perianth segments free, 8 mm long, villous, the adaxial segment clasps the style. Claw 3.5 mm long, recurved 90° and over, villous. Limb 2 mm long, acute, villous. Staminode 0.5 mm long, acute. Ovary 1.5 mm long, 1.1 mm broad, oblong, lobed above, minutely sparsely pubescent, with a ridge on the adaxial surface which is the continuation of the base of the style. Style 9 mm long, filiform, thickened near the apex. Stigma 1 mm broad, often cleft, truncate, terminal-oblique. Hypogynous scales absent. Nectar absent. Receptacle 6 mm diam., globose. Mature female head up to 1.7 cm long, 1.5 cm diam., ovoid, with bracts acute and densely pubescent. Fruit a nut, 6.5 mm long, 4.5 mm broad, 3 mm thick, perimeter ridged, abaxial surface ventricose, with a double fold down the middle of the adaxial surface, smooth, light grey in colour.