Perennial, up to 10cm. tall, forming dense tufts or compact swards c. 15 cm. diam. Stems much-branched from stock, wiry. Basal lvs ± (8)-10-15-(20) × 0·8-1-(2) mm., narrowly linear- to oblong-lanceolate, thin, acute to subacute, narrowed into flat petiole up to 5 mm. long. Cauline lvs 2-3 pairs, sessile, linear to filiform or reduced to bracts. Fls solitary, terminal, (6)-10-15 mm. long. Calyx cut at least 4/5 way into linear-subulate, acute to acuminate, sts apiculate lobes 7-10 × 0·5-1·5 mm., with midrib evident. Corolla cut fully ⅔ way into ovate, acute, apiculate lobes 10-12 × 2-3 mm.

2n = 36

2n = 36

2n = 36

Plants polycarpic, height in flower (30–)70–100(–180) mm. Caudex branched, stolons absent or present. Root much branched. Flowering stems terminal and lateral, 1–10(–18) per plant, largest flowering stem 0.9–1.0 mm diam. at base, c. 0.5 mm diam. when dry, stems tinted purple-black, lateral flowering stems erect or decumbent, flowering stem leaves 0–1 pairs per stem, lowest pedicels from near base of flowering stem to near apex of flowering stem. Rosette of leaves absent or present and distinct from flowering stem leaves, basal leaves narrowly elliptic or elliptic, leaf apex acute, 11–16 mm long, 1.2–3.0 mm wide, green or tinted crimson below or tinted purple-black, flat, not recurved; petiole indistinct to distinct, 4.5–10.4 mm long, 0.5–0.8 mm wide at leaf base. Flowering stem bracts absent, rarely with one pair. Pedicels 10–74 mm long (elongating after flowering to 30–120 mm), 0.5–0.8 mm diam., 0.4–0.7 mm diam. when dry. Flowers 1–10(–18) per plant, 7.7–10.0 mm long. Calyx 6.4–9.0 mm long, green tinted purple-black, hairs at calyx–corolla fusion line few; lobes 4.9–7.0 mm long, 1.1–1.7 mm wide at base, plane, apices acute, margins smooth, sinus hairs absent. Corolla 4.6–10.5 mm long, white, veins uncoloured; tube 1.1–2.9 mm long; lobes 3.7–8.1 mm long, 2.0–4.6 mm wide, hairs below sinus absent; nectary 0.5–0.6 mm from corolla base. Filaments 2.4–6.0 mm long from corolla base, 0.35–0.45 mm wide. Anthers (0.8–)0.9–1.2(–1.5) mm long, anther wall blue-black, mouth yellow, introrse at anthesis; pollen yellow. Stigma colourless. Ovules 40–56 per ovary, ovary yellow in maturity. Capsule 7.3–14.2 mm long. FL mid Nov–Jan.