Erect herb or subshrub, branched from near the base; stems striate, glabrous at the base, densely pubescent above.. Leaves lanceolate to elliptic, acute or acuminate, up to 6 × 2 cm., entirely glabrous or sparsely papillose on the midribs.. Racemes terminal, very dense, spike-like, up to 20 cm. long.. Bracts narrowly lanceolate, acuminate, persistent, about 1.5 mm. long.. Pedicels slightly longer than the bracts, elongating in fruit.. Sepals subequal, up to 2 mm. long, persistent.. Petals white, about 4 mm. long, 2 adaxial deeply 2-or 3-fid, 3 abaxial entire.. Filaments papillose; anthers yellow.. Fruit about 5 mm. in diameter, 7–8-seeded.. Seeds hippocrepiform. about 1.2 mm. long, densely and minutely tuberculate, black when ripe.
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