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Leaf lamina variable in size and shape, 12–18(25) × 0.5–5.5(8) cm, usually linear-lanceolate, elliptic-lanceolate, oblong-lanceolate or oblong-elliptic, usually broadest below the middle, sometimes narrowed to a long-attenuate acute or acuminate apex, narrowed to the base, pubescent on upper surface, rarely with sessile glands, pubescent to sometimes silky-pilose beneath; midrib often prominent beneath, lateral nerves many, ± prominent and arcuately ascending; petiole up to 1.5 cm long, the upper leaves sometimes subsessile.
Perennial herb, up to 2 m high, strigose hairy throughout. Leaves sessile to subsessile; blade elliptic to narrowly ovate, base narrowing into petiole, apex acute to acuminate, venation prominent; with appressed hairs on upper and lower surfaces. Ocrea without a spreading herbaceous limb; fringed with bristles. Flowers: peduncles without stalked glands; inflorescence branches densely and evenly villous; perianth white to pale pink; Nov.-Mar. Fruit a biconvex nut.
Flowers pedicellate, in fascicles of 2–5; fascicles numerous, surrounded by ciliate bracts and borne in 2–5 dense or very dense pedunculate, terminal or lateral, spiciform racemes 3–8 × 1(2) cm in size; peduncles stout, often in pairs from the uppermost ocrea, densely covered with rigid appressed-ascending hairs.
Ocrea yellowish to bright brown, 1.2–3.5(4) cm long, membranous, setose outside or glabrescent, apex truncate with a fringe of long rigid bristles 7–14 mm long, as long as or shorter than the tube.
Perennial herb, up to 2 m high, strigose hairy throughout. Ocreae fringed with long hard bristles, equalling tube. Nut biconvex-lenticular. Flowers white to pale pink.
Stems up to 2 m tall, brownish, branched, basally creeping and rooting at the lower nodes, appressed hairy, more rarely glabrous.
Perianth pink in bud, white or pale pink when open, 3–5 mm long, 5-lobed; lobes 2–3 mm long, oblong-elliptic.
Ovary 1.5–2 mm in diameter, globose to ± compressed; styles 2, united at or shortly below the middle.
Bracts reddish, setose or ± glabrous outside, ovate, apices truncate with fringes of long hairs.
Stamens 7; filaments 1–1.5 mm long, filiform; anthers pink, 0.4 × 0.2 mm, oblong-ellipsoid.
A straggling or erect, perennial herb with a long rhizome; plants forming dense clumps.
Nut black and shiny, (1)2–3 mm in diameter, lenticular, convex.
