Large, robust plants, up to 2.5 m tall and up to 2.5 m diameter, main stem up to 50 mm diam.; younger plants in dense vegetation appear to be straggling, older plants with rigid, erect branches. Branches developing in a whorl below the inflorescence of the previous year, often giving the impression of candelabrum-like growth form; flowering shoots densely foliaceous, the other branches bare, with prominent leaf scars. Leaves up to 15 mm long, basally adpressed and then spreading, mostly persistent for one season only, densely glandular; glands stalked, cylindrical, head not clearly distinct. Inflorescence spicate, occasionally with clusters of capitula on short stalks, interspersed with subtending leaves. Capitula clustered in the axils of the upper leaves, 3-flowered, spike 20-100 mm long, subtending leaves extending well beyond capitula. Receptacle small, conical. Involucral bracts 9-20; outermost leafy, scale-like, very glandular; innermost very glandular in upper part, midrib prominent, mucronate. Disc florets up to 4 mm long, plum-red in upper half, lower half thickened, yellowish. Cypselas with short but well developed annulus, surface smooth, except for area below annulus, which is covered in warty outgrowths, adaxial side ribbed, abaxial side smooth. Pappus setae 17-25, fused at base.
Home