Dwarf woody shrublet c. 150-600 mm tall, stems prostrate, decumbent or erect, main ones becoming very stout despite diminutive height, gnarled, bare, often very twiggy (probably heavily browsed), old bare inflorescence axes persistent and subspinescent, young parts puberulous, hairs less than 0.1 mm long, retrorse, leafy. Leaves opposite, alternate upwards, weakly fascicled, largest primary leaves 6-15 x 0.7-1.1 mm, narrowly oblong, apex acute or subacute, base somewhat narrowed then abruptly expanded and half-clasping, margins entire, thickened, revolute or not, texture moderately thick, venation invisible except for midrib raised at extreme base on lower surface, glandular-punctate, otherwise glabrous or with minute hairs (less than 0.1 mm) mainly on lower part of margins, occasionally a few tufted on apex; axillary leaves similar but smaller. Inflorescence a many-flowered terminal spike c. 8-10 mm broad, elongating to c. 50 mm as flowers pass into fruit, flowers often uncrowded at anthesis, lower ones becoming markedly distant, spikes mostly solitary, occasionally a few loosely panicled. Bract adnate to between a half and two thirds of calyx tube, lowermost 2.7-4 x 0.8-1.1 mm, lanceolate, subacute, often tinged purplish, hairs up to 0.1-0.2 mm long on lower margins, sometimes a few up to 0.1 mm long on lower back, very minute globular glands scattered all over. Pedicels either wanting or up to c. 0.3 mm long. Calyx 1.8-2.2 mm long, obliquely campanulate, often tinged purplish, usually 5-lobed, sometimes irregularly 3-5-lobed up to halfway to base, anticous lobes distinctly broader than other three, hairs up to 0.15-0.2 mm long on margins, up to 0.1(-0.15) mm outside together with minute globular glands. Corolla tube (2.8-)3-4.2 mm long, funnel-shaped, limb c. 4-6 mm across lateral lobes, posticous lobes 1.3-1.8(-2.2) x 0.7-1.1 mm, anticous lobe 2-3.6 x 1.1-1.7 mm, all lobes oblong-elliptic, shades of violet and mauve, or white, then buds (always ?) tinged with colour. Stamens: posticous filaments 2.2-2.8 mm long, anticous filaments 2.5-3.5 mm, all anthers far exerted. Stigma and style c. 3.8-5.5 mm long, style glabrous. Ovary c. 0.8 x 0.5 mm. Cocci 1.7-2.1 x 1-1.4 mm, smooth, light yellow-brown turning dark purplish-brown. Flowering has been recorded chiefly between June and October.
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Woody, dwarf shrub, up to 600 mm high; often twiggy. Leaves hardly tufted, main ones up to 15 x 1.1 mm, narrowly oblong, acute, margins somewhat thick, sometimes revolute; glabrous or with some minute hairs. Flowers in many-flowered, terminal spikes, lengthening up to 50 mm long in fruit, usually single, sometimes a few grouped in loose panicles. Bracts adnate from halfway to 2/3 up calyx tube, lanceolate, subacute, lower margins with short hairs. Pedicels absent to minute. Calyx usually 5-lobed, sometimes irregularly 3-5-lobed, anticous lobes much broader than others. Corolla violet, mauve or white. Flowering time June-Oct.
Densely leafy shrublet, up to 300 mm tall. Leaves in loose tufts, linear, minutely glandular-punctate, margins thickened. Flowers in short spikes, purple or whitish flushed mauve.
Densely leafy shrublet to 30 cm. Leaves in loose tufts, linear, minutely glandular-punctate, margins thickened. Flowers in short spikes, purple or whitish flushed mauve.
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