Herb 0.3–1.2 m. tall; stems decumbent at the base but ± strictly erect above and practically unbranched, drying purplish or brownish, glabrous.. Leaf-blades lanceolate, 4–15 cm. long, 0.2–9(–2.1) cm. wide, narrowed to an acute apex and to the sheathing stipules; upper surface, particularly near the margins, with very short strongly scabrous emergences, glabrous beneath; stipules forming a sheath closely adhering to the stem at flowerless nodes, the sheath cylindrical, 8–9 mm. long with 3 unequal setae 3–6 mm. long, but at flowering nodes the stipules are stretched and funnel-shaped.. Flowers in axillary verticillate few—many-flowered clusters, mainly at the top 2–3 nodes; filiform bracteoles 3.5 mm. long, joined at the base.. Calyx-tube ovoid, 1.2 mm. long; lobes 4, linear-lanceolate, 1.5–2 mm. long, minutely scabrid along the margins.. Corolla white, yellowish or tinged mauve; tube 4–5.5 mm. long, narrowly cylindrical but funnel-shaped above; lobes triangular, 2–3 mm. long, 1.6 mm. wide.. Filaments exserted 2 mm.. Style 6–7 mm. long; stigma capitate, 0.5 mm. wide, slightly bifid.. Fruiting heads globose, 1.3–1.5 cm. wide.. Capsule obovoid, 2–3(–5) mm. long, straw-coloured, densely reddish-brown spotted.. Seeds dark purplish brown, 2.6–3.4 mm. long, 1.1–1.4 mm. wide, 0.8–1.1 mm. thick, laterally compressed, very shiny, very narrowly grooved ventrally and sometimes with a narrow white aril which scarcely projects.
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