branches subterete, subtomentellous when young, becoming puberulous; leaves dimorphic; the lower up to 3 1/2 in. long, 3–4 times dicho-tomously divided, with the ultimate segments linear or rarely subspathulate, subterete, obtuse or subacute, glabrous; the upper 1/2–1 in. long, entire, broadly spathulate or flabellate, with an obtuse triangular apex, much narrowed and slender towards the base, erect, distinctly nerved, coriaceous, glabrous except when quite young and then tomentellous; heads 4-flowered, spicate; spikes terminal, solitary or up to 3 together, sessile or shortly pedunculate, up to 3 in. long, more or less cylindric and about 3/4 in. in diam.; flowering axis tomentose; bearing linear-subulate acute shortly ciliate bracts about 4 lin. long; floral bracts 4, oblong-oblanceolate, rounded at the apex, about 4 lin. long, 2–2 1/2 lin. broad, coriaceous, silky adpressed-villous outside, glabrous within; flowers with numerous long white hairs round the base; perianth-tube obconic, 1 lin. long, glabrous; segments 4–5 lin. long; claws straight, very densely white-villous outside; limb 3/4 lin. long, elliptic, obtuse, densely villous outside; anthers sessile, 2/3 lin. long, with the connective slightly produced at the apex; hypogynous scales 1 lin. long, terete; ovary oblique, puberulous; style 1/2 in. long, rather stout, hairy on the middle third of its length, otherwise glabrous; stigma capitate, broadly ovoid, nearly 1/2 lin. long and broad; fruits ivory-white, smooth and shining, about 4 lin. long, oblong-ellipsoid, acutely beaked, glabrous except for a few long white hairs at the base. null
