A tree 12–15 ft. high. Branches ascending, dusky, glabrate, at first pubescent and leafy at the tip. Leaves oblanceolate or oblong-lanceolate, 5 in. long, 1 in. wide, obtuse, slightly tapering towards the base, straight or slightly curved, hairy on both surfaces, sometimes glabrescent, parchment-like; nerves obvious on both surfaces, marginal ones distinct; midrib whitish-rosy or yellowish (Welwitsch). Heads terminal with one or two lateral, about 2 in. in diam.; outer bracts broadly ovate, gradually becoming larger inwards, densely white-silky on the back, shaggy on the margins; inner bracts spathulate-oblong, 1 1/2 in. long, 4 lin. wide, at first silky on the back, at length glabrescent except at the apex. Perianth about 1 1/2 in. long, rosy, densely shaggy throughout; lobes linear, about 1/2 in. long. Anthers about 1/2 in. long. Style 1 1/2–1 3/4 in. long, white, sulcate along one side, slightly curved below the stigma; stigma 4 lin. long, subclavate at the apex, sometimes gibbous at the base.
