Shrub or woody herb 1–2 m. high; branchlets weakly 4-angular, sparsely setose. Leaf-lamina lanceolate, lanceolate-elliptic or oblong-elliptic, 3–10 cm. long, 1–2.2 cm. wide, apex acute, base cuneate to subtruncate, margin subentire with a fringe of small setose hairs; glabrous or sparsely appressed-setose above, sparsely short white appressed setose beneath; midrib and 1 pair of longitudinal nerves impressed above, subprominent beneath; petiole 1–6 mm. long. Inflorescence terminal, with l–few 5-merous flowers; bracts early caducous, ovate, 10 mm. long, 4 mm. wide, margin ciliate, midrib sparsely setose, otherwise glabrous. Calyx-tube (fig. 11/2–4, p. 32) subglobose to cylindric-campanulate, 9–18 mm. long, 5–9 mm. in diameter, densely covered with large reflexed scale-like appendages abruptly narrowed to 1 or several setae (setae obscuring the appendages in var. orientalis); lobes tardily deciduous, oblong to oblanceolate, 10–12 mm. long, 3.5–5 mm. wide, margin ciliate, otherwise glabrous or pubescent and bearing setose appendages down the centre; intersepalar appendages ligulate, setose. Petals reddish purple, obovate, 20–30 mm. long, 18–25 mm. wide. Stamens 10, markedly unequal; 5 large stamens with anthers 10–13 mm. long, connective produced ± 15–25 mm., bilobed filiform appendage 1–2 mm. long, filament 12–16 mm. long; 5 small stamens with anthers 9–12 mm. long, connective produced 2.5–3.5 mm., bilobed appendage 1 mm. long, filament 10–13 mm. long. Fruiting calyx enlarging to 10–20 mm. long and 8–12 mm. in diameter, appendages often somewhat accrescent; capsule setose at the apex, completely enclosed by the calyx.
