the flowers are arranged in cylindrical spikes that are long and wide. the spikes occur on old wood and there are 40 to 60 flowers on each spike. the stamens are arranged in five bundles around the flowers with 4 to 5 stamens per bundle, and are usually green in the centre grading to red at the tips. flowering occurs over an extended period from july to october. the fruit are woody capsules in dense spikes along the stem long and each capsule is long and wide.