perennial. rigid shrub, 30-60 cm high, woody at base, forming clumps. stems erect to ascending, pubescent, the hairs usually aculeate from white, tubercular base. Leaves dark green, 1-4 cm long, 3-7 mm wide, subsessile, lanceolate, acute, margins revolute, densely clothed, with stiff hairs, from white bulbous base. Inflorescence in terminal, helicoid cymes, sessile, 1 or 2 ranked. Calyx 2-3 mm long, hirsute outside, persistent, deeply 5-lobed, lobes oblong-linear to triangular. Corolla 3-3.5 mm long, white, hairy out side, corolla tube a little longer than the calyx lobes, corolla-limbs 5, short, spreading. Stamens 5, epipetalous, included; anthers about 1 mm long. Ovary superior; style terminal, simple; stigma conical, with broad base surrounded by a flesh rim. Nutlets fused in two pairs tubercled, with margined or winged, pubescent or glabrescent. Flowering from October to April.