Perennial, often with short tufted non-flowering axillary branches. Flowering stems ascending to erect, (5)-15-45-(60) cm tall, with dense spreading eglandular hairs. Lvs ovate, lanceolate, elliptic or oblanceolate, (5)-10-25-(50) × 3-10-(20) mm, the lower petiolate, the upper sessile, with eglandular hairs. Infl. crowded; infructescence lax; fruiting pedicels usually > sepals, with dense eglandular hairs. Bracts ovate, the lower without scarious margins, eglandular hairy on both surfaces, the upper with scarious margins, glabrous above. Sepals scarious on margins, 4-6 mm long, glabrous above, with eglandular hairs on green part beneath; hairs not overtopping apex. Petals c. = sepals. Styles 1.5-2 mm long. Capsule cylindric, 2× length of calyx. Seeds c. 0.6 mm long, tuberculate.