Phylica wittebergensis Pillans

A much branched shrub about 60 cm high, with ascending, wiry branches. Branchlets clothed with short, grey pubescence. Leaves closely set, about 1 cm long: lamina linear, acute, often apiculate, rounded or tapered at base, with closely re volute margins entirely covering the lower surface; upper surface convex, smooth, shiny, more or less tubercled and at first pubescent on the margins: petiole 1-2 mm long. Capitula solitary on short branchlets, 5-6 mm wide, usually 6-8 flowered, subtended by long leaves. Bracts of the lower flowers foliaceous and much exceeding them: upper bracts lanceolate, about as long as the flowers, covered with white pubescence on the outer surface. Bracteoles 2, linear-lanceolate, dorsally pubescent. Flowers stipitate, about 3 mm long, with a close covering of white pubescence on the outer surface: calyx-tube 0.75 mm deep, broadly cyathiform, almost filled with a fleshy disc having a free upper margin: sepals 1.5 mm long, ovate, acute, flattened. Petals inserted at the mouth of the tube, 0.5 mm long: lamina cucullate, orbicular, claw about as long, cuneate. Anthers reniform, 1-celled. Ovary turbinate, with longer, straighter pubescence than on the calyx. Style 0.5 mm long, stout, trigonous. Stigma wider than the style, obtusely 3-lobed.