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Leaves decussate, 6·5-20·8 x 2·5-12 cm., broadly obovate or suborbicular to oblong, rounded and contracted at the base into a broad petiole, or subcuneate and attenuate into a subpetiolar flat base, the uppermost obovate-spathulate to spathulate and sessile, all rounded or obtuse at the top, subcrenate or undulate at the margin or entire, flat, fleshy (up to 4 mm. thick), green, slightly shining; midrib somewhat impressed above, slightly prominent beneath; petiole up to 1·5 x 1 cm.
Flowers slightly zygomorphic, with the mouth directed upwards, grouped in loose to dense cymes forming a terminal, pyramidal, ± ample, loose, panicle-like inflorescence 9-28 x 12-40 cm., with strong axis and branches; branches decussate, divaricate, with flowers only in the upper 1/2-1/3; leaves of the base of inflorescence up to 6 x 3 cm.; pedicels 4-18 mm. long, rather thickened towards the apex; bracts oblong-linear to elliptic.
Filaments of the lower stamens inserted 11 mm. above the base of corolla-tube, those of the upper ones 13 mm. above the same; anthers 1·5-2 mm. long, oblong to ovate, dark red, much exserted, those of the upper stamens attaining the upper 1/4 of the corolla-lobes, those of the lower ones attaining nearly the middle of corolla-lobes.
Calyx 2·5-8(10) mm. long, campanulate, dark red, falling off with the corolla; tube 1·5-2·75 mm. long; sepals broadly triangular and broader than long, or lanceolate and then slightly longer than broad, acute, apiculate, separated by broad, retuse sinuses.
Carpels 10·5-13·5(15) mm. long, attenuate into the styles; styles 15-25(30) mm. long, filiform, exserted, the stigmas attaining or exceeding the apex of corolla-lobes.
Stems 1 to few, 0-20-1-5 m. high, stout, up to 6-5 cm. in diameter at the base, erect, terete, red or pale green suffused with red, leafless at flowering time.
A completely glabrous perennial succulent, up to 1·8 m. high (with the inflorescence).
Scales 1·6-6 mm., bilobed or truncate.
