Closely branched lfy shrub up to 1 m. tall, young stems and buds with simple white hairs, often hoary. Lvs 5-10 × 1-2 mm., narrow-cymbiform, entire, deeply grooved at midrib, almost sessile; in seedlings larger, flatter, almost glab., with a few small teeth; upper surface with soft simple hairs, lower surface white with close, mostly stellate hairs, veins not prominent, midrib with ∞ long simple hairs; stipules narrow, hairy, long compared with lvs (1-3 mm.), often conspicuous. Infl. of few-fld axillary corymbs often freely produced along lfy twigs, less often terminal; outer bracts triangular, dark brown, scarious; buds rounded. Fls almost sessile, very pale yellow, c. 3 mm. diam.; calyx-tube with fine white hairs, mostly sessile stellate; sepals c. 1·5 mm. long; petals 0; stamens < sepals; style divided almost to base; capsule c. 3 mm. long, < ⅓ immersed in calyx-tube, losing sepals early; operculum occupying most of inner face of coccus; seeds (1·3)-1·6-2 × 1-(1·2) mm., dark brown, shining.

2n = 36

2n = 36

2n = 36

2n = 36