Perennial up to 55 cm tall, with a branched woody stock. Stems ± pubescent below, glabrous above, erect, simple or branched. Leaves 20-70 x 1-5 mm basally congested; basal leaves spathulate, scabrid, base long attenuate, apex obtuse cauline leaves scabrid, linear, sessile, apex acute. Bracts linear-lanceolate, with a hyaline ciliate margin. Inflorescence a loose panicle. Calyx 10-11 mm, cylindrical, glabrous, tapering below, teeth ovate, obtuse. Petal limb 7-8 mm, divided into oblong lobes, claw exserted, ciliate; coronal scales oblong. Carpophore 5-6 pubescent. Filaments hairy. Seed reniform c. 1 mm, back tuberculate, faces smooth.