A shrub up to 1·2 m. tall. Young branches 4-gonous, ± densely bristly, the bristles whitish or whitish-yellow, often densely leafy upwards, the oldest ones subterete, glabrescent, greyish; nodes somewhat thickened, long-setose. Leaves opposite. Leaf-lamina 1·5–5 x 0·7–2·5 cm., elliptic, oblong-ovate or ovate, acute at the apex, acute or rarely roundish at the base, subentire or crenulate at the margin, somewhat rigid, very discolorous (dark green above, yellowish-green beneath), appressed-setose on the upper face, the bristles short, whitish, each prolonged on the leaf surface by a raised line, subpatently setose on the under face, more dense on nerves, longitudinally (3)5-nerved, the nerves impressed above, prominent beneath, the transverse ones and the reticulation inconspicuous on the upper face, ± visible on the under one; petiole 4–8 mm. long, setose. Flowers in terminal few-flowered cymes or solitary; pedicels 3–5 mm. long, setose; bracts linear-oblong to ovate, acute, bristly outside, caducous. Receptacle 8–11 x 7–9 mm., campanulate, densely setose, the bristles long, ascending, simple, whitish. Sepals 6–6·5 mm. long, triangular-ovate, obtuse, setose on the back, long-setose at apex, ciliate at the margin, tardily deciduous; intersepalar segments linear, setose, ending in a long white rather strong bristle. Petals 2·5–3 x 2·4–2·7 cm., purple, ciliate at the margin. Anthers c. 8 mm. long; basal anterior appendages of the pedoconnective 0·5–1 mm. long. Fructiferous receptacle up to 11 x 8 mm., widely campanulate. Capsule slightly shorter than the receptacle, spherical, strigose on the upper part. Seeds c. 1 mm. in diameter.