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Leaf blades 3–6 cm. x 1–2(8) mm., linear, ± acute at the apex, narrowed to the base, ± scabrid on the margins and midrib beneath to distinctly shortly hairy; stipule base hairy, 3 mm. long, with 6–11 fimbriae 3–6.5 mm. long, often purplish.
Annual or perennial erect herb 15–90 cm. tall, with ± woody base (rarely very woody up to 8 mm. wide); stems glabrous except for pubescence just below the nodes or in vertical grooves on the mtemodes between the ribs, arranged bifariously.
Flowers in clusters at the nodes, the apical ± 7 running together to form a sort of cone with the leaf-like bracts protruding and the stipules overlapping or, in some specimens, the clusters remaining quite separate.
Seeds dark brown, 3–3.3 x 1.2 x 0.7 mm., narrowly oblong, narrowed at one end, with a ventral groove which is opened out at basal end and bears a trace of a white aril; dorsal surface rugulose.
Corolla white or more rarely blue; tube 4–5 mm. long, narrowly funnel-shaped; lobes 2.5–5 mm. long, lanceolate, mostly with a few hairs at the apex outside.
Calyx tube 1.5 mm. long, ellipsoid; lobes 2 (rarely 3) or 2 large and 2 small or in one variety 4, 3–4.5 mm. long, linear.
Capsule 3–4 mm. long, oblong-ellipsoid, hairy or less often ± glabrous.
Filaments exserted 1.5–2.5 mm.
Style exserted c. 2–5 mm.
