Description :

• Subshrubs
• Leaves alternate, linear-lanceolate or oblanceolate, sessile with half-clasping base, coriaceous, with entire to denticulate and often somewhat revolute margins
• Capitula radiate, solitary, on long peduncles
• Involucre broadly cup-shaped, ecalyculate; involucral bracts ± 11-15, in 1 row, basally connate, lanceolate, coriaceous, with distinct subscarious margins
• Receptacle flat and wide, glabrous, smooth, punctate, epaleate
• Ray florets female, 5-8; tube cylindrical, with few to many gland-tipped hairs; lamina elliptic-oblong, apically trifid, white or cream-coloured
• Style branches glabrous, apically tipped with conical obtuse appendage
• Cypselas oblong, with 5 or 6 obliquely curved, wing-like ridges, dark brown to black, glabrous
• Pappus bristles in many rows, white, barbellate, caducous
• Disc florets bisexual, many; corolla tubular, apically 5-lobed; lobes ovate, apically papillate
• Anthers ecalcarate, caudate, bases auriculate; apical appendage ovate, large; endothecial tissue radial
• Style branches with continuous stigmatic surfaces, apically distinctly conical-convex, outside surface papillate towards apex
• Cypselas narrowly oblong, with 5 obliquely curved, wing-like ridges, brown, densely hirsute on ridges with mucilaginous hairs
• Pappus bristles in many rows, white, barbellate, persistent

Nomenclature:

• Phaneroglossa B.Nord.
  • Nordenstam: 66 (1978)
  • Bremer: 507 (1994)

Distribution & Notes:

• Southern Africa : Monotypic: Phaneroglossa bolusii (Oliv.) B.Nord., endemic, Northern Cape (Namaqualand) and Western Cape