Paranomus lagopus Kuntze

A much branched shrub, the lower branches often descending, 60 cm-1.3 m high but rarely more than 1 m high. Young stems densely covered with a mixture of long and short hairs. Leaves much dissected, up to 50 mm long, the segments slender with a strong tendency to curve upwards, with long weak hairs when young, glabrescent, the apiculum small, pale. Peduncle short, sometimes lacking, always much shorter than the spike, densely covered with shaggy hairs. Bracts subulate or lanceolate, hairy excepting for the tips of the longer bracts. Spike usually 30-60 mm long, rarely as much as 90 mm Bracts subtending each partial inflorescence ovate-lanceolate, with a tapering apiculate tip, the lower surface tomentose with additional long hairs near the apex, reflexing after the buds open in all but the lowermost. Floral bracts one third or more the length of the mature flower bud, tomentose with some longer hairs near the apex. Perianth of the mature bud about 9 mm long, the claws shortly and closely pubescent, f the limbs with long stiff bristly hairs, the posticuous segment with fewer hairs. Style hairy on the lower half; pollen presenter.5-.7 mm long, oval in outline, a little wider than the style.