Compilation
Physotrichia heracleoides

Robust to wiry biennial or perennial herbs up to 80 cm. high, with scattered short bristly hairs which often become dense on the peduncles and rays. Rootstock woody; stem terete with regular rather coarse grooves. Leaves mostly basal, those on the stem much reduced and present on the inflorescence only as sheathing bases with small appendages. Basal leaves simple with 3–5 broadly rounded subpalmate lobes up to 15 × 20 cm., to 2-ternate with leaflets similar to the lobes of the simple leaves; apex broadly to slightly emarginate, base cordate; margins ± regularly denticulate; petioles up to 20 cm. long, with slightly sheathing bases. Umbels terminal and lateral on long peduncles. Terminal umbels with 20–30 rays up to 4 cm. long; bracts and bracteoles very well developed and often conspicuous. Bracts 10–15, 2–2·5 cm. long, linear to narrowly lanceolate, bracteoles similar, up to 1·25 cm. long; both are either entire or may be markedly fimbriate (see notes). Partial umbels with 9–30 flowers on pedicels 5–12 mm. long. Calyx teeth well developed, narrowly triangular to subulate; petals white to pale cream. Fruit 5–3 mm. long, ellipsoid to ovoid, slightly dorsiventrally compressed, covered with vesicular hairs especially on the ribs. Stylopodium conical; styles short and often shed from the maturing fruit. Ribs obtuse; vittae well developed, 1 in each interval, obvious externally and occupying most of the space between the ribs, and 2 in the commissural space. Carpophore divided to the base, seed very slightly concave on the commissural face.