Shrubs, 0.5-1 m tall; branches stout, terete, purplish red, subglabrous, short branches densely covered with many persistent scaly stipules at base. Petiole ca. 1 mm or leaves subsessile; leaf blade thickly papery, elliptic or obovate, sometimes oblong, 5-10 × 2-4 mm, tomentulose adaxially, grayish white lanate abaxially, base cuneate, margins revolute, apex acute; lateral veins inconspicuous; stipules long triangular, 1.5-2 mm, acuminate. Flowers sessile, usually 3 fascicled at tips of branchlets or axillary near tips of short branches; bracteoles 2, scarious, lower portion connate, longer than calyx or subequal, tomentulose, apex cuspidate. Calyx tube ca. 2 mm, subglabrous; lobes 5, oblong-lanceolate, slightly shorter than calyx tube, puberulent and shortly ciliate, shortly acuminate. Corolla pallid red, funnelform, 12-14 mm, tomentulose outside; tube slender, decurved; lobes oblong-lanceolate or oblong-ovate, ca. 2 mm. Long-styled flowers: stamens 5, inserted below throat of corolla tube, anthers linear, included; style slightly exserted, stigmas 2-lobed, lobes filiform. Short-styled flowers similar to long styled; stamens inserted above throat of corolla tube, anthers slightly exserted. Fruit ca. 6 mm; seeds covered with reticulate aril adherent to testa. Fl. May.
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