Shrub, c. 3 m, with stout prickled stems. Leaves palmately lobed, clustered at the ends of the branches; petiole c. 50 cm, hirsute with short patent bristly hairs when young, some persisting, dilated into a clasping spinulose base with a bicuspid ligule; blade c. 30 by 40 cm, with 7-9 lobes, base cordate, lobes c. 15 by 7 cm, broadly elliptic-oblong, apex rather blunt, rusty stellate-pubescent when young, sometimes persisting, mid-veins and rather numerous arched-ascending lateral veins prominent, margin irregularly serrate. Inflorescence when young hirsute like the petioles, sometimes persistent; rachis c. 90 cm, bearing many lateral branches (peduncles) along its length, bracts lanceolate, caducous; peduncles c. 5-15 cm with some caducous, linear bracts along their length and around the base of the umbellules (capitula). Capitula of c. 10-20 sessile (or subsessile) flowers. Calyx rim short, undulate. Corolla conical in bud, falling as a calyptra. Stamens 10-12, anthers oblong, filaments stout. Ovary obconic, angular from contact with neighbouring flowers, 10-12-celled; disk broadly conical; surmounted by the massive connate styles, stigmas slightly swollen. Fruit obconic angular from mutual pressure, c. 10 by 7 mm.
Home