Mimetes cucullatus (L.) R.Br.

An erect shrub 1-2 m in height, multiple-stemmed at base, the numerous branches arising from a stout subterranean lignotuber. Branches upright, 3-8 mm in diam., usually simple, only occasionally dichotomous or branched, densely cinereously villous, tending to glabrescent later. Leaves very narrowly to broadly oblong-elliptic 25-55 mm long, 5-20 mm wide; leaves subtending axillary capitula narrowly obpandurate becoming anteriorly conduplicate, cucullate, clasping the capitulum immediately below; truncate at base, apex tridentate rarely entire, puberulous at first, soon glabrous. Inflorescence cylindric, 60-100 mm long, 40-70 mm wide, topped by a suberect coma of reduced narrowly oblong reddish flushed leaves, Capitula 4-7-flowered, subtended by a reddish or yellow-flushed, cucullate, anteriorly conduplicate leaf either entire or tridentate at apex. Outer involucral bracts glabrous, unequally developed, forming a clasping bilabiate involucre; anterior bracts large, elliptic-acuminate 15-30 mm long, 3-12 mm wide; posterior bracts lanceolate-acuminate 8-10 mm long, 1.5-3 mm wide; inner involucral bracts narrowly lanceolate-acuminate, margins sericeously ciliate. Floral bracts linear, acuminate to subulate, 6-10 mm long. Perianth 35-40 mm long, curved adaxially in bud; tube inflated, 1 mm long, glabrous, claws 10 mm long; filiform puberulous to sparsely sericeous; limbs linear-acute scarcely differentiated from claws, densely sericeous. Style 45-50 mm long. Pollen presenter linear-subulate 5-7 mm long, annulately thickened at junction with style, apex sharply acuminate, stigmatic groove terminal. Ovary oval, 1 mm long, densely sericeous. Hypogynous scales subulate, fleshy, 2 mm long.