branches tomentose; leaves 3 1/2–4 in. long, 5–8 lin. broad, oblong-linear, subacute, narrowed at the base into a very short petiole, distinctly veined, with a prominent midrib, densely tomentose at the base, otherwise glabrous, ciliate when young; head sessile, 3 1/2 in. long, about 4 in. in diam.; involucral bracts 13-seriate; outer ovate, subacuminate, obtuse, pubescent or hirsute; inner from oblong, acuminate, obtuse to linear or linear-oblong, densely villous, rufo-ciliate at the apex, equalling the flowers; perianth-sheath 1 3/4 in. long, dilated, 3-keeled and 3-nerved below, densely pilose, becoming glabrous at the base; lip 8 lin. long, 3-awned, pilose; lateral awns 4 lin. long, ciliate with long brown hairs; median awn 2 lin. long, filiform; fertile stamens 3; anthers linear, 2 1/2 lin. long, subsessile; apical glands 3/4 lin. long, ovate, acuminate, acute; barren stamen acute, eglandular; ovary 2 1/2 lin. long, oblong, covered with long reddish-brown hairs; style 2 in. long, tapering above, kneed at the base, pubescent, becoming villous below; stigma 2 3/4 lin. long, furrowed subacute. null