Shrub to 4 m, furfuraceous on the young parts. Petiole to 55 cm long, broadly channelled above, c. 1 cm wide, clasping base heavily lenticellate, prolonged as a stipular ligule 4 cm long sometimes scaly on the back, and bearing numerous irregular undulate crests on the base of the petiole often continued up the petiole, as rough fascicles of bristles as far as the blade; blade 45 cm long, base cordate or emarginate, with some bristles underneath, palmately 7-lobed to within c. 10-15 cm from the base, lobes narrowly ovate to oblong-elliptic, slightly narrowed towards the broadly rounded sinuses, apex acute, margin serrate. Inflorescence a terminal compound umbel, spherical, c. 15 cm ø; peduncle stout, 2-3 cm, bracts together with those among the primary rays caducous; primary rays 30-40, rigid only slightly flattened (subterete), 2-4 cm long, 2-2½ mm wide, bearing opposite bract-scars at the apex, ending in three branches; central branch 8-10 mm long, terminating in a head c. 13 mm ø of c. 20 subsessile sterile bacciform flowers (5 by 4 mm when dry, 2-3-celled); pedicels to 2 mm interspersed with minute bracts; lateral branches 3-4.5 cm long, with the scars of opposite bracts near the middle, terminating in a dense head 1-1.5 cm ø (in bud) of 20-30 sessile flowers interspersed with inconspicuous bracts. Calyx rim obsolete. Corolla 6-8-lobed above, tubular below, 2.5 mm long (in bud). Stamens 6-8. Ovary turbinate, obscurely ribbed, 5-8-celled (varying on the same plant). Fruit unknown.
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