Caulescent perennial, but sometimes apparently acaulescent by reduction. Stem to 25 cm. long. Leaves spirally arranged, erect at the top of the stem, but reflexed lower down; blade elliptic, obovate or spathulate, 5–15 mm. long and 2–5 mm. broad, glandular, especially towards the margins on the upper surface and sparsely pilose on the lower surface; petiole 10–30 mm. long and 0.3–1 mm. broad, glabrous or pilose above, usually pilose (rarely glabrous) below. Stipules oblong, up to 5 mm. long and 1 mm. broad, lacerated at the apex. Peduncles 1–2, 9–55 cm. long, arising laterally below the top of the stem, then curving to become erect, glabrous, glandular or pilose; inflorescence 2–14-flowered; pedicels 1–10 mm. long, glandular or pilose; bracts linear, 3 mm. long, sparsely pilose, caducous. Sepals 5, elliptic or oblong-lanceolate, 4–7 mm. long, 1–2 mm. broad, glandular-pilose. Petals 5, 5–8 mm. long, pink or purple. Stamens 5; filaments 5 mm. long. Ovary subglobose; styles 3, 2 mm. long, bifid nearly to the base. Seeds fusiform, 0.7–0.9 mm. long, 0.2 mm. broad, brownish-black; testa reticulate, with longitudinal and transverse ridges. Fig. 1/8, p. 3.
