Erect or ascending with erecto-patent branches, ½-1¼ m high; all hairs minutely dentate; stems thin, firm; young parts densely clothed with appressed acroscopic rather long hairs. Leaves elliptic-oblong from an acute or contracted base, acute, mucronate, 1½-6¼ by ⅓-3¼ cm, at first on both surfaces densely clothed with appressed long hairs; hairs subpersistent or those of upper surface gradually disappearing; petiole 2-10 mm. Heads terminal and near the tops of the branches also axillary, not very numerous, highest often in lax umbelliform inflorescences, often 2-3 together on a common peduncle and then 1-2 sessile; rest shortly peduncled; peduncle thin, firm, up to 10 cm long but often much shorter; axes of inflorescence and stalks of heads densely clothed with appressed acroscopic hairs; heads at first ovoid, afterwards more cylindrical, 6-15 by 4-6 mm; lowest flowers already fallen before expansion of highest; axis of head densely hairy; bracts acute or very shortly mucronate, ± 2 mm long, bracteoles very acute, densely hairy on back, ± 2¼ mm. Perianth sessile between the bracteoles, red, 3-3½ mm long. Tepals oblong or ovate-oblong, 1-nerved, in lower half rather densely hairy on the back. Filaments (staminal cup included) 1¾-2 mm; anthers linear, ¾-1 mm; pseudo-staminodes strap-shaped, about as long as stamens, at top divided into a few narrow strips. Style ¼-½ mm. Fruit broadly oblong, dorsally compressed, 1-1¼ mm long.
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