Perennial herb with woody base, 0.3–1 m high, multi-stemmed at base. Leaves opposite or rarely alternate, usually ovate or elliptic, glaucous; lamina 15–55 mm long, 6–38 mm wide. Inflorescence: rachis usually 15–22 cm long at maturity; involucral bracts 5–8, narrowly ovate, 12–16 mm long, 2.5–7 mm wide, deciduous, with hairs of variable length, long-ciliate. Flowers cream towards base, red above. Hypanthium circumscissile above ovary, 14–17 mm long, densely hairy outside towards base, more sparsely hairy above with a mixture of long antrorse hairs and sparse short hairs, hairy inside. Sepals 5–7 mm long. Stamens greatly exceeding sepals.
Grows in grassland in heavy-textured, dark, often rocky, soil.
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