a low shrub, 1–2 ft. high; branches erect, terete, puberulous or shortly pubescent; leaves crowded, in whorls of 4–6, erect, spreading, or somewhat recurved, linear-subulate, narrowed at the base, minutely apiculate, glabrous or minutely puberulous, 3–6 lin. long, 1/3–1 lin. broad; spike subglobose, more or less nodding, about 6 lin. in diam.; flowering bract broadly cuneate, membranous and sheathing below, in the distal half abruptly linear-subulate, minutely apiculate, puberulous or villous on the back and on the distal margin of the sheath, 2 1/2–3 1/2 lin. long, 1 1/2–2 1/2 lin. broad near the base; bracteoles boat-shaped, falcate, acuminate, acute, strongly keeled, glabrous within, villous on the keel and margin, 2–2 3/4 lin. long, 1/2 lin. broad; calyx membranous, 5-partite or polysepalous, 2–2 3/4 lin. long; lobes (or sepals) linear, obliquely acuminate, acute, keeled, puberulous or glabrous; corolla-tube funnel-shaped, glabrous without, 1 1/2–2 lin. long; lobes linear, obtuse or subacute, glabrous, 3-nerved, 2 lin. long, 1/2– 3/4 lin. broad; stamens 2–3 lin. long; style 2 1/2–3 1/2 lin. long. null
