Whole plant reaching 2(1/2) ft., suffruticose below; stems erect, simple below, branched above, terete, striate, glabrous; lower leaves numerous, 1-1(3/4) in. long (including a petiole 1/4 in. long), 2-3 lin. broad, spathulate-oblong, narrowed towards the base, rather thick; upper leaves small, distant, linear; inflorescence of branched spikes, often in threes, the 2 lower spikes small, the central 2-6 in. long; bracts about 2 lin. long, ovate-lanceolate, hyaline, strongly keeled, very acute, persistent; perianth 1 3/4 lin. long, white; segments oblong-lanceolate, 3-nerved, midrib reaching the apex, lateral nerves shorter; staminodes slightly longer than the stamens, 2-fid at the tip into acute lobes; ripe capsules 2 lin. long, oblong-obovate, brown; style very short, almost 0; stigmas 2, recurved, 1/4 lin. long; seeds usually 2, lenticular, 1/2-3/4 lin. in diam., black, smooth and polished.
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