Shrub or herb, often low and tangled.. Stems rigid, bent slightly at nodes in a zigzag manner, with prominent longitudinal ridges approximately 0.75 mm. apart and abundant closely adpressed 0.5–1 mm. long setae, often reddish tinged on ridges.. Leaves sessile, coriaceous, sometimes turning red with age, narrowly obovate or elliptic, 15–60(–80) mm. long, 4–25 mm. wide, acute, sharply and rigidly mucronate, margins spinose, both surfaces bearing closely adpressed sparse to abundant setae, these often shorter, finer and less abundant on upper surface, arising from slight protuberances.. Head 4–18-flowered, compact; bracts ovate-lanceolate or lanceolate, 8–17 mm. long, 3–6 mm. wide, acute, mucronate, margin spinose, surfaces bearing adpressed setae abundant on outer surface, sparse and finer on inner surface.. Calyx with teeth up to 3 mm., prominently ribbed, 13–20 mm. long, 1–1.5 mm. wide, bearing closely adpressed setae between ribs.. Corolla bright blue; tube 18–28 mm. long; lobes obcordate, apiculate, mucronate, 6–9 mm. long, 5–6 mm. broad.. Seeds 6–7 mm. long, 2–2.5 mm. across.. Fig. 2.
Home