Perennial herb with a tuberous rootstock to 30 × 1–5 cm., producing several woody subterranean stems branching at ground-level; branches shortly pubescent, decumbent, 15–40(–60) cm. high, usually woody, sometimes herbaceous when produced after burning.. Leaves linear-lanceolate to oblanceolate, to 45 × 6 mm., puberulous when young, glabrescent, base and apex rounded, margin entire, midrib prominent beneath; petiole to 2 mm. long; glandular stipules triangular, reddish.. Cymes irregular, with the primary cyathium on a naked peduncle to 4.5 cm. long, the lateral branches leafy, with cyathia subsessile or on peduncles to 2 cm. long; bracts similar to the leaves, single or occasionally paired, pubescent on the margin, glabrescent.. Cyathia 2.5–4 × 5–8 mm., with broadly funnel-shaped involucres, pubescent; glands 5 or up to 8 on the larger primary cyathium, distant, subcircular to transversely elliptic, 1–1.5 × 1.5–2.5 mm., shallowly saucer-shaped to 2-lipped, margin entire to irregularly crenulate; lobes transversely rectangular, ± 1.5 × 2 mm., margin deeply toothed, ciliate.. Male flowers many: bracteoles laciniate, apices feathery; stamens 3.5–4 mm. long, with pedicels usually pubescent at the apex.. Female flower: perianth a distinct rim below the densely pubescent shortly pedicellate ovary; styles ± 2 mm. long, pubescent below, joined for up to 1/3, with spreading, channelled, shortly to distinctly bifid apices.. Capsule shallowly 3-lobed, ± 7 mm. in diameter, densely pubescent.. Seeds globose, 3 mm. in diameter, smooth, brown, mottled.. Fig. 87/4,5, p. 463.
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