Plant Description

It is shrub or small tree 300-600 cm tall.

Stem is covered in a dense coat of brownish-yellow, star-shaped hairs.

Leaves are alternate or sometimes opposite, broadly ovate, 12-33 cm long, 9-25 cm wide. Tip is pointed. Base is flat or rounded. 3-5 main veins branching out from the base. Small, round glands on the leaf base and sometimes along the side veins. Reddish, star-shaped hairs on the upper side when young, later becoming smooth. Lower side has yellowish glands and brown, star-shaped.

Flowers are greenish, clustered in simple, thick, star-shaped flower stalks (racemes), 15-25 cm long. Male flowers: Short stalks, with lance-shaped sepals about 0.4 cm long. Female flowers: Three long styles sticking out.

Fruit is round with long, soft, star-shaped spines, 0.8-1 cm.

Phenology

Flowering and Fruiting: June-July.