a viscid-pubescent herb, apparently perennial; stem densely leafy, simple or with a few branches, 20–40 in. high, about 1/4 in. thick below, tapering upwards, turning dusky green when dry or the upper part reddish; branches even at the fruiting stage densely leafy all along, leaves showing a gradual passage towards the bracts but the leaves immediately below the spikes of flowers are smaller and narrower than the bracts; leaves lanceolate, quite entire, obtuse, sessile, erect or adpressed, the lower 1–1 2/5 in. long and 1/3– 1/2 in. broad, the uppermost 2/5– 1/2 in. long and 1/10– 1/6 in. broad; flowers axillary, sessile, solitary and the uppermost arranged in a dense bracteate terminal spike 4–16 in. long; calyx bifid, about 2/5 in. long; corolla brown, 4/5 in. long, pubescent outside; limb white; segments bilobed, 1/6 in. long, 1/25 in. broad; stamens 2, included; style exserted; capsule 2/5– 3/5 in. long, 1/10 in. broad, valves 2, bifid; the bracts at the base of the flowers up to 3/5 in. long, at length longer. null
