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Perennial glabrous herb with annual branches c. 1 m. tall from a thickened rootstock. Leaves subfleshy, almost sessile, 2–9 (14·5) × 1–3 (5·5) cm., obovate to oblanceolate, apex rounded or obtuse, mucronate, cuneate at the base. Inflorescence a terminal, elongated, racemose panicle or raceme; lower bracts leaf-like but diminishing in size upwards; peduncles c. 1·5 cm. long with 1–3 (6) flowers per peduncle; pedicels 0·7–1·5 cm. long, recurved in fruit; bracteoles 1–4 mm. long, membranous, ovate-lanceolate, apex acuminate. Sepals 4–6 mm. long, ovate, apex apiculate. Petals purplish, rose-pink or almost white, 9–12 × 5–6 mm., obovate. Stamens c. 25, with yellow filaments 3–4 mm. long. Ovary ovoid; style c. 1·5 mm. long; stigmas 3, spreading. Capsule 5–7 mm. in diam., globose, shining yellow-green. Seeds 30–40, c. 1·2 mm. in diam., black, shining, subreniform, obscurely patterned with concentric rings of oblong cells.