erect, 1–1 1/2 ft. high; branches ascending, densely leafy; leaves 6-nate or scattered, erect-spreading or incurved, imbricate, linear or subulate, acute or acuminate, often mucronate, glabrous or pubescent, ciliate or naked, 2–7 lin. long; inflorescence generally a dense congested spike, thickening and persisting long after the fall of the corolla; pedicels always very short and stout; bracts and sepals closely adpressed, usually similar in shape and texture, from rhomboid, orbicular-spathulate, or broad-obovate to unguiculate-spathulate (the lamina small, ovate, acute), oblanceolate, and narrow-oblanceolate, ciliate or naked, rarely lacerate, scarious, nerved, pale coloured or at length deep red, from 1 1/2–3 lin. long; corolla tubular trumpet-shaped, mostly narrow at the base and widening upwards, rarely more equal, glabrous, dry, green to greenish-white or yellowish-green, 8–15 (usually 10–12) lin. long; limb small, erect; anthers usually included, sometimes just visible, subcuneate-oblong, prognathous at the base, with a more or less sharp deflexed point, 2/3–1 lin. long, aristate; awns variable, usually shorter than the cell; ovary sessile, glabrous. null
