Perennial subshrub, (8-)12-15 cm tall. Lamina oblanceolate, (40-)55-75 x (8-)10-12 mm; spines rigid, 4-6(-8) mm long, yellowish or maroonish brown. Inflorescences pedunculate, cylindrical to turbinate, (40-)45-60(-70) mm long (excluding peduncle), 12-15(-20) mm in diameter, with peduncle (15-)20-35(-50) mm long and 2(or 3) pairs of peduncular bracts. Bracts obovate, 22-25(-30) mm long, lamina 12-17 mm long; divaricate in flower; central primary spine nearly always simple; spines of lower bracts recurved to spreading; middle to upper bracts covered with spreading short, white hairs, also with long, viscid glandular hairs, lamina rarely with long, spreading silky hairs, usually also with glandular hairs adaxially. Corolla lilac, (25-)28-30 x 9-11 mm, tube 8-10 mm long. Capsules ovate, 9 x 4 mm Seeds ovate, 6 x 5 mm, covered with long white hygroscopic hairs.
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