Perennial, rounded subshrub up to 300 mm high, with gnarled stems and short internodes (< 5(-8) mm long). Leaves oblanceolate, 40-60(-80) x 10-15(-20) mm; margin undulate, coarsely dentate spinose, spines rigid, 3-5(-6) mm long, yellowish orange; glaucous with appressed, densely packed short hairs; base attenuate, decurrent, often with tufts of long, silky hairs. Inflorescences 35-60(-75) mm long, 12-14 mm in diameter. Bracts obovate to wedge-shaped, (17-)20-24 mm long, base 8-11 mm long; middle and upper bracts ending in 5 primary spines, central primary spine usually broadest and compound (with 2 or 3 pairs of marginal secondary spines, occasionally with only 1 pair of marginal spines), lateral spines usually with 1 or 2 basal and 2 or 3 marginal secondary spines; primary spines usually recurved and secondary spines spreading in fruit; bract base pubescent with deflexed to spreading short hairs (often also with scattered long hairs), long, silky hairs adaxially; spines velvety with spreading short hairs interspersed with short glandular hairs (rarely villose-see Notes). Bracteoles sickle-shaped, 7-8(-10) mm long, silky hairy especially towards tip. Calyx tips usually tinged brown, with long, white hairs clearly visible between bracts; dorsal sepal obovate, cuspidate, 11-14 mm long, densely silky hairy, 7-9-veined from base; ventral sepal ovate, 11-13 mm long, densely silky hairy, 5-7-veined from base; lateral sepals 7-8(-10) mm long, densely silky hairy. Flowers blue-purple with lemon-yellow throat; corolla 22-28(-32) x 11-13 mm, tube (6-)8-10 mm long; central lobe wider than long or equal, constricted at base, truncate to emarginate. Stamens with beige-brown (sometimes purplish) anthers, 2 mm long; filaments 4-5 mm long, glandular. Style with ring of glandular hairs at base. Capsules ovate in face view, flattened, glabrous, shiny, 6-8 x 3-4 mm, 2-seeded. Seeds (4-)5 x 3 mm, covered with long white hygroscopic hairs.
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