Shrub, 0.3-1.0 m high. Leaves ericoid, opposite on long shoots, rarely alternate on flowering shoots, decussate on short shoots, imbricate; blade linear, margins entire, initially felty, glabrescent, shiny, bright green. Heads disciform, solitary on short shoots or racemose on long shoots, shortly pedunculate. Involucral bracts 4, ovate to narrowly obovate, green, margins broad, membranous, purple, glabrous or with sparse pubescence. Receptacle with paleae of marginal florets free. Flowers: marginal female florets (1)2, corolla inconspicuous, yellow; disc florets (1-)3-5(-7), corolla trumpet-shaped, red-purple, yellow towards base; Feb.-May, Sep.-Nov. Fruit with cypsela oblong to narrowly obovate, compressed, long-hairy. Pappus absent.
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Older leaves glabrescent, shiny, (0.75-)1.0-3.0(-5.0) x 0.3-0.4 mm. Peduncles 1-5 mm long. Marginal female florets (1)2. Disc florets (1-)3-5(-7). Flowering time: correlated with rainfall, January to April in summer-rainfall areas and July to September in winter-rainfall areas.
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