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Leaves usually sessile or sometimes with a subpetiolar broad base, amplexicaul, erect-spreading, flat, fleshy, carinate beneath, canaliculate above, green, shining; lower leaves 11-12·5 x 7·2-9 cm., obovate-cuneate, rounded at the top, irregularly crenate or subcrenate-dentate at the margin, except along the base; median leaves 4·5-8·5 x 3·3-3·7 cm., oblong-cuneate; upper leaves obovate-oblong to oblong-spathulate, smaller, concave.
Stem erect, usually simple, woody and 1-1·5 cm. thick (sometimes nearly globose-conical) below, covered there with a smooth and papery bark, then terete, rugose and with the scars of the fallen leaves ± raised, finally subquadrangular and up to 0·5 cm. in diameter above, green or greenish-yellow to purple-brown mainly below; median internodes 0·5-3 cm. long, the two uppermost ones respectively 2-3 cm. and 4·5-5·5 cm. long.
Filaments of the lower stamens very short, inserted ± 25 mm. distant from the base of the corolla; filaments of the upper ones 1·5-2 mm. long, insertedd at the base of the corolla-lobes; anthers yellow, the lower ones c. 2 mm. long, broadly ovate, included, with the base ± 6 mm. distant from the sinus between the lobes of the corolla, the upper ones c. 1 mm. long, oblong, exserted.
A perennial semi-shrubby succulent 28-96 cm. high with a ± dense indumentum of short, spreading, glandular-headed hairs, except on the base of the stem and on the lower leaves which are glabrous.
Calyx 8-16 mm. long, green, shining; calyx-tube 2·5-5 mm. long; sepals 7-13 x 4-6 mm., oblong, ovate-lanceolate or ovate, ± attenuate, acute, fleshy, shortly glandular-pubescent on both faces.
Flowers in cymes forming a terminal, usually dense corymb-like inflorescence 9-18 cm. in diam.; pedicels 5-10 mm. long, erect; bracts elliptical-oblong, acute, apiculate.
Follicles 12-15 mm. long; styles 17·5-20 mm. long, exserted for c. 3·5 mm.
Scales 3·5-7 mm. long, usually linear.
