Shrub to c. 50 cm tall; stems puberulent or densely hairy at first, becoming glabrous. Lvs 1.5-3.5 mm long (including auricles), oblong-ovate or oblong-lanceolate, densely imbricate on non-flowering branches, keeled on abaxial surface, often ciliate, obtuse; auricles proximally directed. Infl. a narrow raceme 2-9-(c. 20) cm long, sometimes almost paniculate. Pedicels very short, puberulent. Bracteoles several, similar to lvs, resembling a calyx below fl., obscuring pedicels. Sepals 2-4 mm long, ovate-oblong, pink or mauve-pink, shining, ± scarious. Corolla c. 3/4 length of calyx, deeply lobed, paler than calyx, persistent, scarious. Stamens c. = corolla; anthers > filaments. Style reddish, exserted. Capsules densely hairy, < perianth, subglobose. Seeds 0.5-0.7 mm long, strongly reticulate, often aborted.