herbaceous; radical leaves subrosulate, spreading, membranous when dry, cuneate-flabelliform, bearded along the truncate apex with long white hairs; stem simple, scapelike, with opposite subdistant leaf-scales below, angular, floriferous above; cymules capitato-fasciculate, sessile in the axils of opposite, scale-like bracts, forming a long spicate-thyrsus; calyx-lobes short, ovate, nerved, glabrous; petals connate at base, oblong, sub-spathulate, suberect with recurved points; stigma sessile; squamæ shortly cuneate. The specimens are in an advanced state, with withered leaves. Leaves numerous, 1–2 inches long, with a spathulate petiole, expanding into a shortly cuneate lamina, 1–1 1/2 inch broad, abruptly cut off at top, and fringed with rigid hairs 2–4 lines long. Flowering stem 12–18 inches high, more than half of it occupied by the spiked inflorescence, whose tufts are 1/2–1 inch apart. A remarkable species.
