Shrubs evergreen, 0.2-0.8(-1.3) m tall. Bark brown, much branched in upper part; branches green, turning brownish, 4-angled when young, pubescent. Leaves opposite, decussate or ternate, densely crowded on upper branches; petiole very short; leaf blade deep green adaxially, glaucous abaxially, linear, 0.5-2.5 × 0.15-0.25 cm, leathery, both surfaces at first pubescent, soon glabrous, base tapering to petiole, margin revolute, apex aristate; midrib conspicuously raised, lateral veins obscure. Inflorescences terminal, rarely axillary, a panicle of spikes, rarely reduced to a single spike; spikes 4-10-flowered; peduncle to 1 cm, gray sericeous. Pedicel almost absent. Calyx yellow; tube 5-8(-10) mm, exterior yellow sericeous; lobes 4, oblong, 1-1.5(-2) mm. Stamens 8, lower whorl inserted above middle of calyx tube, upper whorl at throat; upper ones exserted from calyx tube. Disk scale 1(-4), lanceolate, apex 2-lobed. Ovary cylindric, sparsely puberulous or pubescent only at apex; style very short; stigma globose. Drupe red, conic, ca. 5 mm, enclosed by persistent membranous calyx. Fl. summer-autumn.
Home