Thesium capitatum L.

A small shrub, often about 9-12 in. high; stems erect or ascending, sparingly branched; branches densely leafy, glabrous; leaves imbricate, parallel with the stem or spreading, linear, with an acute or subacute cartilaginous apex, sharply keeled, more or less triangular in section, 4-7 lin. long, rigid, minutely subtranslucent and scabrous on the margins; flowers in dense terminal heads; bracts gradually differentiated from the upper leaves, obovate to oblong-lanceolate, acutely acuminate, keeled, broad and fleshy in the middle, with rather wide jagged or toothed margins, glabrous; bracteoles narrower than the bracts but otherwise very similar; perianth 2 1/2-3 1/2 lin. long, with hairy pocket-like depressions behind the anthers; segments linear-lanceolate, subacute, 1 1/2-2 lin. long, fleshy, densely bearded; anthers 1/3-1/2 lin. long, included in the perianth-tube; style 4/5-1 2/3 lin. long, reaching to the middle or the top of the anthers; fruits ellipsoid-globose, 3 1/2 lin. long, including the persistent perianth, rather slenderly 10-ribbed, smooth and not reticulate between the ribs.