Leucadendron sessile R.Br.

Shrubs 1.5 m high, developing from a single stem at ground level. Branches stout, short, tomentose, thickened towards the head, somewhat purplish. Leaves in female plants up to 8 cm long, 1.9 cm broad, in male plants up to 6.4 cm long, 1.3 cm broad, narrowly elliptical, glabrous, not shining, acute with a blunt red recurved mucro and red margins, narrowed to the base, distinctly veined, somewhat erect, increasing in size and becoming more crowded towards the head. Involucral leaves similar to the stem leaves, coloured, much exceeding the head. Male inflorescence 2.3 cm long, 3.5 cm diam., depressed globose, solitary, terminal, giving off a faint lemon-like smell. Basal bracts 1.3 cm long, 9 mm broad, up to 127 cm number, ovate, ciliate, glabrous, brown, brittle. Floral bracts 1.6 cm long, 2.5 mm broad, linear, somewhat broader at the apex, glabrous, acute, with translucent margins and a few hairs on the midrib. Perianth tube 1.3 cm long, glabrous except for a few hairs above on the laterals. Claw 2 mm long, glabrous, recurved 90°. Limb 5 mm long, glabrous, linear. Anther 4.5 mm long, linear, erect, acting as a pollen presenter. Stigma abortive, 4 mm long, linear, also acting as a pollen presenter. Pollen triangular in polar view with convex sides 38 µ long, polar depth 28µ. Style 1.6 cm long, narrower above, very sparsely pubescent. Hypogynous scales 5 mm long, filiform, pale. Nectar seen filling the perianth tube above the hypogynous scales. Receptacle 1.2 cm diam., globose. Female inflorescence 2.1-2.8 cm long, 1.4-1.8 cm diam., elongated globose, solitary, terminal with the florets clustered at the apex, giving off a pleasant sweet smell. Basal bracts about 76 cm number, similar to the male, closely imbricating the head on all sides. Floral bracts 1.2 cm long, 1.2 cm broad, ovate, acute, glabrous except at the base where densely silky-pubescent and ciliate. Floral bud 1.4 cm long, densely pubescent, except at the apex, standing in a tuft of hairs. Perianth tube 1.5 cm long, densely pubescent except on the posterior surface. Claw 3 mm long, recurved 270°, laterals pubescent. Limb 2 mm long, glabrous, anterior retuse. Staminode 1 mm long, linear. Ovary 1.7 mm long, ovoid, glabrous, surrounded by a dense tuft of hairs. Style 1.5 cm long, filiform, thickened above, glabrous. Stigma 0.7 mm broad, oblique, minutely cleft. Hypogynous scales 6 mm long, filiform, pale. Nectar seen filling the perianth tube above the hypogynous scales. Receptacle 1.5 cm long including the part enclosed within the basal bracts, 5 mm diam., conical, acute. Mature female head a cone, dehiscent, 4 ±0.4 cm long, 3.1 ± 0.2 cm diam., with bracts broadly elliptic, glabrous above, pubescent below. Fruit a nut, 8.5 mm long, 1 cm broad, 6 mm thick, glabrous except for a ring of hairs around the basal scar.