Echiostachys ecklonianus (Dc.) Levyns

A perennial herb with a somewhat woody underground stem, which may branch occasionally, giving off tufts of leaves and flowering shoots annually. Occasionally reaching 36 cm in height, but usually much less; flowering shoot covered with long, weak, spreading hairs. Basal leaves oblanceolate, much attenuated at the lower end, somewhat dilated at the extreme base, acute or obtuse, up to 12 cm long and 18 mm broad, usually less, with weak spreading hairs on both surfaces tending to fall off with age. Leaves on the flowering shoot smaller than the basal and becoming oblong near the flower. Inflorescence 8 cm long or less and 4 cm broad or less; flowers with short pedicels. Bracts linear, with indumentum similar to the leaves, 2 cm or less at the base of the inflorescence, and diminishing in size towards the apex. Calyx about three-quarters the length of the corolla, enlarging in fruit; sepals linear or somewhat spathulate, covered outside with long, upwardly directed hairs. Corolla cylindrical at the base, widening very gradually, regular, with obtuse lobes, usually less than 1 cm in length, with spreading hairs along the centre vein of each lobe or glabrous, purplish or reddish, strongly scented. Stamens more or less equal, much exserted, arising about half-way up the corolla-tube, adnate to the corolla-tube for some distance, with long hairs on the adnate portions of the filaments and similar hairs extending for a short distance up the free parts of the filaments and on to the corolla below. Style with spreading hairs on the lower two-thirds. Each nutlet with a median ridge, almost smooth.