Nivenia dispar N.E.Br.

Shrubs 0.8-2.0 m high, occasionally stunted and to only 300 mm. Stems erect to inclined, usually several from base, leafy shoots 2-3 mm wide. Leaves narrowly lanceolate, 100-200 x 7-8 mm. Inflorescence a false panicle of (15)30 to 80 flowers, peduncle strongly compressed, 3-4 mm wide, branches subtended by leafy bracts below, or dry brown scales above, ultimate peduncles of variable length, 4-15 mm long; spathes subequal, leathery, green below, brown above, ± 4 mm long, floral bracts 6-7 mm long, dry and membranous, brown. Flowers salver-shaped, heterostylous, pale to deep blue, paler at tepal bases and in tube; perianth tube (16-)18-20 mm long, ± cylindric, widening from 1.2 mm at base up to 2 mm at mouth; tepals obovate, obtuse to emarginate, 11-14 mm x (4.5-)5.0-6.0 mm, inner slightly narrower than outer. Filaments either ± 6 mm (thrum flower) or 0.5 mm (pin flower) long, white; anthers ± 1.2 mm long after anthesis. Style either 18-20 mm long and included 1-2 mm below mouth of tube (thrum flower) with branches < 0.5 mm long, or ± 25-27 mm long and exserted ± 7-9 mm (pin flower) with branches ± 1.4 mm long; branches filiform, slightly expanded in upper half and recurved. Capsules obovoid-ellipsoid, ± 4 mm x 3.5 mm. Seeds 1 per locule, ± 3 x 2 mm.