Annual to short-lived perennial acaulescent herbs or subshrubs 100-150(-200) mm tall with reduced branching in perennials (internodes < 5 mm long). Leaves tufted, oblanceolate, lanceolate to strap-shaped, (30-)50-90(-150) x 10-20(-25) mm; margin flat to undulate, irregularly dentate to coarsely dentate spinose; spines fine to strong, 2-4(-7) mm long; with strigose to spreading short hairs, usually interspersed with stalked glandular hairs; often with scattered longer hairs on main vein; base attenuate; petiole (1-)3-8(-12) mm long. Inflorescences (1-)3-5(-8) per plant; 25-65(-85) mm long, (12-)15-18(-20) mm in diameter. Bracts hemispherical to fan-shaped, 18-23 mm long, base 6-8 mm long, middle and upper bracts ending in 5 primary spines; central primary spine always compound (with 2 or 3 pairs of marginal secondary spines), lateral primary spines with 2 basal and 3(-5) marginal secondary spines; primary spines usually recurved and secondary spines spreading in fruit; bract base hirsute to pubescent with deflexed to spreading short hairs interspersed with stalked glandular hairs and some scattered long, silky hairs; ring of long, silky hairs adaxially at base of spines; spines usually with long, viscid glandular hairs, 0.2-0.3(-0.4) mm long, often velvety due to additional short, white silky hairs (Western Cape), or villose due to additional long, white silky hairs (central Northern Cape, South Africa). Bracteoles lanceolate 6-9 mm long, silky hairy, often with glandular hairs at tip. Calyx with dorsal sepal ovate to obovate, cuspidate, 11-14(-15) mm long, silky hairy especially adaxially, often with glandular hairs abaxially, 7-9-veined from base; ventral sepal ovate, 9-11 mm long, silky hairy, often with glandular hairs abaxially; lateral sepals 9 mm long, densely silky hairy. Flowers with variable colours, white with purple veins, blue-purple with white throat, or yellowish; corolla (23-)25-30 x 9-12(-13) mm, tube 9-12 mm long; pubescent, often with some glandular hairs; central lobe longer than wide or equal, constricted at base, truncate to emarginate. Stamens with purple-black to brown anthers, 2 mm long; filaments 4-5 mm long, glandular, hairy towards base. Style with patch of glandular hairs at base. Capsules ovate in face view, flattened, glabrous, shiny, 6-7 x 2-3 mm, 2-seeded. Seeds 4 x 3 mm, covered with long white hygroscopic hairs.
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