Phylica laevis Steud.

A much branched shrub, about 30 cm high, with wiry branches. Branchlets slender, clothed with grey pubescence with which are mingled spreading, silky hairs. Leaves 5-7.5 mm long: lamina spreading or somewhat deflexed, lanceolate or ovate-lanceolate, obtuse or tipped with an acute callus, cordate at base, incurved towards the apex, with revolute margins covering the lower surface; upper surface smooth or scabridous, glabrous or at first pilose on the midrib and apex: petiole short, dorsally compressed. Capitula 8-10 mm wide, widely rounded above, surrounded at base by many leaves. Bracts about 4 mm long, linear or setaceous, densely villous on the outer surface. Bracteoles 2, setaceous. Flowers stipitate, about 4 mm long: calyx-tube 0.75-1.25 mm deep, cyathiform, glabrous on the outer surface, sparsely pubescent on the inner except at the base: sepals 1.25-2 mm long, lanceolate, attenuate; inner surface convex, sparsely pubescent at the base, glabrous above; outer surface with a dense covering of long, white, woolly hairs. Petals inserted half way up the tube, about 0.25 mm long: lamina widely ovate to rotundate, somewhat cordate at base, concave on the inner side, with the upper margin lacerate-ciliate: claw almost half as long, linear. Anthers 1-celled. Ovary narrowly turbinate, glabrous. Style 0.25 mm high, stout. Stigma divided into 3 subulate lobes.