stem suffruticose, erect, reaching 2 ft. high, glabrous; branches subterete; leaves opposite, shortly petiolate, 7/8–1 1/2 in. long, 1/4– 3/8 in. broad, oblong or subspathulate, subacute, narrowed and subauriculately dilated at the base, entire, glabrous; petiole very short, 1/2–1 lin. long; flowers in pedunculate spikes, reaching 3 in. long, 1/2 in. broad, subobtuse; outer bract 2 lin. long, sessile, broadly ovate, acute, very concave, persistent on the rhachis, keeled; bracteoles 2 lin. long, ovate, acute, strongly keeled, very shortly apiculate, nearly glabrous, each bracteole enclosing 2 hard sharp yellow shining spines about 1 1/2 lin. long, together with much white wool; perianth nearly 4 lin. long; sepals subequal in length, the two outer a little broader than the inner, linear-lanceolate, acute, much indurated at the base, woolly on the back; stamens unequal, exserted; staminodes 0; ovary glabrous, ovoid, 1 1/4 lin. long; style 2 lin. long, slender; stigma shortly 2-fid; seed 1 1/4 lin. long, folded on itself, oblong. null
