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Aciphylla.]

10. A. polita, Cheesem.—Stems erect, 3–12 in. high, clothed at the base with the sheaths of the old leaves. Radical leaves numerous, very slender, firm but hardly coriaceous, 2–6 in. long or more, 2–3-pinnate; primary divisions 4–6 pairs; ultimate segments very narrow-linear, almost capillary, not more than $1⁄30$ in. broad, mucronate but hardly pungent; petiole as long as the blade, sheath broad, membranous, produced at the tip into 2 almost filiform leaflets. Umbels compound, forming a loose open panicle, female slightly more contracted than the male. Bracts with a broad sheathing base, tipped with a pinnately divided leaflet. Male peduncles ½–1½ in. long, female ⅓–¾ in.; involucral bracts subulate-lanceolate. Pedicels short. Flowers white. Fruit narrow-oblong, not seen fully ripe, about $1⁄8$ in. long.—Ligusticum politum, Kirk, Students' Fl. 202.

11. A. Dobsoni, ''Hook. f. Handb. N.Z. Fl.'' 93.—Stout, smooth and shining, forming compact yellowish-brown patches 3–6 in. diam. Rootstock thick and woody, branched at the top. Leaves all radical, very numerous, densely imbricated, excessively thick and coriaceous, 1½–3 in. long; sheaths ½–1½ in. or more, ¾ in. broad; leaflets 3 at the top of the sheath, about equal, 1–2 in. long, ⅓ in. broad at the base, linear-subulate or dagger-shaped, rigid, concave, transversely jointed, keeled at the back towards the top, pungent-pointed. Flowering-stem very stout, almost as thick as the little finger, grooved. Umbels 4–5, clustered at the top of the stem, forming a capitate inflorescence; peduncles short, thick. Fruiting umbels densely packed, forming a rounded head 1 in. in diam. or more. Fruit linear-oblong, $1⁄8$ in. long; carpels 4–5-winged, but not seen quite ripe.—Kirk, Students' Fl. 210.