Leucadendron strobilinum (L.) Druce

Shrubs up to 2.6 m tall, erect, branching from near the base, with a stout trunk up to 15 cm diam. Branches erect, purplish, stout, more so in the female plants, clothed with an erect pubescence. Leaves in male plants up to 6.7 cm long, 2 cm broad, in female plants up to 8 cm long, 2.3 cm broad, elliptic, obtuse or subacute, mucro reddened recurved obtuse, margins rarely reddened towards the apex, distinctly nerved, dark green, lanate-ciliate at first, often becoming eciliate, sides curved outwards presenting a convex surface towards the axis, leaves of juveniles sparsely pubescent, densely ciliate. Involucral leaves more crowded, not numerous, becoming cream coloured, differing in size. Male inflorescence 1.8-2.5 cm long, 2.4-3.6 cm diam., globose, solitary, terminal, silvery white in bud, giving off a strong yeasty smell. Basal bracts 12 mm long, 8 mm broad, about 20 in number, ovate, subacute, glabrous, ciliate, somewhat oily, dusky and recurved above, the innermost becoming densely pubescent below. Floral bract 4.5 mm long, linear, obtuse, densely crisped-pubescent mostly in the middle, ciliate. Floral bud 10 mm long, slender, apex yellow or slightly reddened, evenly curved, glabrous, surrounded by a tuft of hairs at the base. Perianth tube 5 mm long, glabrous. Claw 3 mm long, slender, glabrous, recurved 180°. Limb 2.5 mm long, concave, spathulate. Anther 1.7 mm long, linear, curled upwards. Pollen triangular in polar view with swollen apices and sides 37 µ long, polar depth 23 µ. Stigma abortive, 1.5 mm long, clavate, entire, acting as a pollen presenter. Style 7.5 mm long, filiform, narrower above. Hypogynous scales 3.5 mm long, acicular, pale yellow. Nectar seen filling the perianth tube above the hypogynous scales. Receptacle 1.7 cm long, 1.4 cm diam., globose. Female inflorescence 3-4 cm long, 1.8-2.5 cm diam., narrowly ovoid, with florets numerous and arranged in 13 ascending spiral rows with about 30 cm each, giving off a strong yeasty smell. Basal bracts 12 mm long, 8 mm broad, about 15 in number, apex dark brown and recurved, somewhat oily. Floral bract 6 mm long, 10.7 mm broad, transversely oblong, ciliate, with a small area of pubescence towards the centre below. Floral bud 9 mm long, glabrous, transversely compressed. Perianth segments imbricated forming a tube 6 mm long, glabrous. Claw 2 mm long, recurved 145°, glabrous. Limb 1.2 mm long, glabrous, concave, hooked, anterior somewhat flattened. Staminode 0.5 mm long, curled upwards, anterior absent or rudimentary. Ovary 1.3 mm long, ovoid, lobed above, glabrous. Style 7 mm long, glabrous, filiform, narrower-below. Stigma 0.8 mm broad, suboblique, entire. Hypogynous scales 2.6 mm long, acicular, pale. Nectar gathers at the throat of the perianth tube. Receptacle 3 cm long, 1.2 cm diam., clavate with a conical apex. Mature female head indehiscent, 4-6.5 cm long, 3-4.1 cm diam., ovoid, glabrous, with bracts numerous, subretuse, sparsely pubescent in the middle, connate below, arranged in three spirals. Fruit samaroid, 6.5-8.5 mm long, 5-6 mm broad, compressed, ob-cordate, dusky, emarginate, winged, pitted.