Chaenostoma violaceum Schltr.

Suffrutex between 500 mm and 1.5 m tall, probably spindly but regenerating from base, branching loose, virgate, branches terete, glandular-pubescent, hairs up to 0.1-0.4 mm long, brachyblasts present, leafy. Leaves opposite or sometimes becoming alternate upwards, largest primary leaves 20-40 x 1-2.5 mm, linear, obtuse, base slightly narrowed then abruptly expanded and clasping, connate or not, margins revolute, both surfaces hairy as stems. Flowers usually solitary in the leaf-axils forming long (up to c. 300 mm) simple racemes, or occasionally in 3-flowered cymules particularly in the lower part of the inflorescence. Bracts 1-7 x 0.1-0.8 mm, in pairs immediately below calyx. Pedicels (lowermost) c. 2-8 mm long (peduncles of cymules up to c. 15 mm). Calyx distinctly bilabiate, tube 1-2 mm long, posticous lobes 3.2-5 x 0.4-1 mm, anticous lobes slightly broader, glandular-pubescent with some hairs 0.25-0.7 mm long. Corolla tube 11-15 x 3-4 mm in throat, limb nearly regular, 10-16 mm across, posticous lobes 3.2-5 x 2.54 mm, anticous lobe 4-6 x 2.5-3.8 mm, all elliptic-oblong, shades of mauve or purple, throat yellow/orange, glandular-pubescent outside, hairs up to c. 0.2 mm long, inside weakly bearded with clavate hairs. Stamens 4, anthers 1-1.6 mm long, anticous pair exserted, filaments 2.5-3 mm long, posticous pair in throat, filaments 1.5-3 mm long. Stigma 2-4 mm long, exserted. Style 10.5-13 mm long. Ovary 1.6-2 x 1-1.3 mm, either glabrous or few glistening glands on sutures. Capsules 4.5-6 x 3-3.5 mm. Seeds 0.8-1 x 0.3-0.4 mm, pallid.