Shrublet, quite woody at the base, forming patches 10–60(–100) cm. long and wide, the stems much branched, spiky and tufted, the plant reaching a height of 10–40 cm., ± glaucous.. Leaves lanceolate, 1–3 cm. long, 2–5 mm. wide, gradually narrowed to acute or acuminate apex, ± narrowed at base, usually glabrous above, pustulate on lower surface or with short spreading bulbous-based hairs, ± costate, margin usually coarsely hispid-ciliate, almost appearing toothed.. Inflorescence an erect unilateral cyme, elongating with age, 10–30 cm. long, 10–50-flowered, with numerous bracts the lowest resembling the leaves, very gradually reduced upwards; pedicels 1–2 mm. long or obsolete.. Calyx-lobes unequal, lanceolate, 4–8 mm. long, 0.4–1.3 mm. wide, ± twice as large at maturity, hispid-ciliate, inner surface glabrous, outer pustulate or with bulbous-based hairs.. Corolla rose, blue turning pink or purple with red spots, strongly zygomorphic, 1.2–1.5 cm. long, tubular in lower half, expanding above into an extremely oblique funnel-like throat and limb 7–9 mm. wide, glabrous outside, with a zone of hairs inside 4–6.5 mm. above base; lobes rounded, unequal, up to 2.5 mm. wide.. Stamens borne at unequal heights; filaments 0.2–0.4 mm. long.. Style 3–4 mm. long; stigmas oblique, surmounted by 2 laterally compressed sterile style-tips.. Nutlets reddish, 2–2.4 mm. long and wide, dorsally tuberculate, ventrally angular with triangular areole ± 1 mm. wide contracted into an upwardly directed sulcus.. Fig. 25.
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