Leaves erect, 3 1/2–10 in. long, (1 1/3 in. broad at the base, ex Ruhland), 1/2 in. broad in the specimen seen, but much dilated in the sheathing portion, gradually tapering to a very obtuse apex, many-nerved, glabrous. Peduncles several to a plant (3 in the specimen seen), much longer than the leaves, 1–1 1/4 lin. thick, terete, with 10–11 remarkably prominent ribs, as seen in thin transverse section in water, glabrous; their sheaths shorter than the leaves, very lax, mostly 3-fid at the apex, glabrous. Heads about 6–7 lin. in diam., semiglobose, monœcious, densely white-pubescent (somewhat glabrous, ex Ruhland). Involucral-bracts 1 3/4–2 1/2 lin. long, 1–1 1/3 lin. broad, white (greenish-fuscous, ex Ruhland), glabrous. Flowering-bracts 1 3/4–2 lin. long, 3/4–1 lin. broad, cuneate-rhomboid, abruptly very acute, white, densely bearded with short white hairs on the apical part. Female flowers shortly pedicellate. Sepals 3, equal, 1 1/3 lin. long, 1/3 lin. broad, oblong, boat-shaped, flaccid, blackish, bearded and ciliate with white hairs on the apical part. Petals 3, unequal, 1–1 1/3 lin. long, 1/4 lin. broad, linear-subspathulate (oblong-spathulate, ex Ruhland), white, all slightly hairy on the inner face (ciliate, ex Ruhland) with a black gland near the apex, the larger bearded on the back at the apex, the smaller with only a small apical tuft of white hairs. Male flowers pedicellate. Sepals connate into a funnel-shaped body about 1 1/4 lin. long, open down one side, trifid at the apex, blackish, densely bearded with white hairs on the apical part. Stipes between the sepals and petals exceedingly short, about 1/8 lin. or less long. Petals 3, unequal, 2/3–1 lin. long, 1/8– 1/5 lin. broad, linear-cuneate, whitish, densely bearded with white hairs on the apical part, and with a linear black gland near the apex. Anthers black.
