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Description:
Shrubs 0.8–2(–3.5) m high, occasionally only up to 0.3 m. Stems erect to inclined, usually several from base, compressed, leafy stems 5–6 mm diam., old stems reaching to 30(–50) mm diam. at base, older plants with lateral branches smaller than main axes, these sometimes like spur shoots. Leaves narrowly lanceolate, 10–20 × ± 8 mm, acuminate, usually 8–12 per growth flush. Inflorescence a compound, flat-topped false panicle of up to 120 flowers, primary peduncle strongly compressed, secondary branches subtended by leafy bracts below, or dry brown scales above, pedicels of variable length, 1–6(–8) mm long or ± lacking and some flowers sessile; spathes enclosing 1 or rarely 2 flowers, leathery, subequal, brown above, herbaceous below, ± 4 mm long, inner floral bracts 6–7 mm long, dry and membranous, light to medium brown. Flowers salver-shaped, heterostylous, pale to deep blue, ± white at base of tepals and in tube; perianth tube 11–13 mm long, nearly cylindric, widening from 1.2 mm at base to ± 2 mm at mouth; tepals spreading, oblong, obtuse to subacute, 9–11 × 3.5–4.5 mm, inner slightly narrower than outer. Filaments either long, exserted ± 8.5 mm (thrum flower) or short, 0.5 mm long (pin flower), white; anthers ± 1.2 mm long after anthesis, yellow. Style 8–9 mm long (thrum flower) and included 1–2 mm below mouth of tube with branches 0.3 mm long, or ± 19 mm long (pin flower), exserted ± 9 mm, branches ± 0.8 mm long. Capsules obovoid, 3–4 mm long, 1 or 2 locules sometimes empty. Seeds 1(2) per locule, 2–3 × 1.8 mm. Chromosome number 2n = 32. Flowering time: late January to March.
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