Shrubby, c. 0.5-1.2 m tall, branches up to c. 6 mm in diam., hairs c. 0.1-0.25(-0.5) mm long in narrow bands running down stem, ± recurved, closely leafy. Leaves fascicled, alternate, largest primary leaves 6-15 x 0.5-1 mm, linear, apex acute, base not narrowed, decurrent down stem as a glabrous or nearly glabrous band fringed by a narrow (or rarely broad) band of hairs, margins entire, thickened, revolute, glandular-punctate, otherwise often glabrous, sometimes few to many scabrid hairs c. 0.1-0.2 mm long on margins, occasionally a few along midrib on lower surface. Inflorescence composed of few-flowered racemes c. 10-15 x 8 mm compounded into a long narrow crowded terminal panicle up to c. 150-300 x 50 mm in well-grown specimens. Bract adnate to calyx tube, lowermost 1.5-3.6 x 0.6-1.1 mm, lanceolate, acute, concave in lower part, hairs up to 0.1-0.25 mm long confined to lower margins. Pedicels, if present, up to c. 0.5 mm long. Calyx 1-1.8 mm long, somewhat obliquely campanulate, lobed up to halfway, 2 anticous lobes larger than other three, rarely each anticous lobe fully or partially united with adjacent lateral lobe, hairs up to c. 0.1-0.2 mm long on margins, rarely a few on tube on posticous side, often a few minute globose glands. Corolla tube 1.8-3.4 mm long, funnel-shaped, limb 3.5-7 mm across lateral lobes (all parts smaller when flowers female), posticous lobes 1-2.7 x 0.8-1.2 mm, anticous lobe 2-4 x 1-1.8 mm, all lobes oblong or elliptic, light to dark shades of violet-blue or lavender, once recorded as white. Stamens: posticous filaments 1.5-2.5 mm long, anthers shortly to well exerted; anticous filaments 2-3.2 mm long, anthers well exerted. Stigma and style c. 2.5-4.3 mm long, style either glabrous or with a few minute hairs. Ovary c. 0.4-0.8 x 0.4-0.7 mm. Cocci c. 1-5-2 xl.5-1.7 mm, dark brown, rugulose, with two conspicuous spurious cells bulging out on either side of the relatively narrow fertile part, in transverse section this seen to occupy only about one third of the total area. Flowering principally in August and September, though possibly flowers can be found in any month.
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Dwarf shrub to shrub, ± 0.5-1.2 m high; stems branched. Leaves: main ones up to 15 x 1 mm, linear, revolute, often glabrous. Flowers in terminal racemes with few flowers, arranged in long, narrow, dense panicles. Bracts lanceolate, concave below. Calyx somewhat obliquely campanulate, usually 5-lobed to halfway, sometimes lobing irregular. Corolla violet-blue or lavender, rarely white. Anthers: upper ones shortly to well exserted, lower ones well exserted. Flowering time all year.
Densely leafy shrublet to 50 cm, with puberulous branches. Leaves tufted, linear-lanceolate, minutely puberulous. Flowers in small, round heads forming narrow, compact panicles, mauve.
Densely leafy, virgate shrublet, ± 100-600 mm tall. Leaves tufted, linear. Flowers in dense spikes arranged in narrow, lax panicles, white (in Namaqualand) to mauve, calyx 5-lobed.
Densely leafy, virgate shrublet to 35 cm. Leaves tufted, linear, calyx 3-5(6)-lobed. Flowers in dense spikes arranged in narrow, lax panicles, white, calyx 5-lobed.
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