A shrub about 20 in. high, with numerous branches up to 8 in. long, densely ashy-tomentose when young. Leaves closely packed, sessile, lanceolate, obtuse, 3 1/2 in. long, 9 lin. wide at the middle, uppermost narrower, thickly coriaceous, bluish-green, very shortly hairy; lateral nerves 6–7 on each side, ascending at an acute angle, slightly prominent when dry. Heads broadly turbinate, 2 3/4 in. in diam.; bracts coriaceous, pale red, long white-pilose outside, densely ciliate, innermost about 1 1/2 in. long, 5 lin. wide. Perianth 1 1/3 in. long, pale red with long white hairs; tube 7 lin. long; upper lip of limb narrowly boat-shaped, 3-toothed, lower narrow. Anthers narrowly linear, 2 lin. long; connective prolonged into an obtuse ovate appendage. Ovary oblong, clothed with long rusty hairs; style 1 1/2 in. long, tapering from a thick base.
