Slender erect or spreading shrub, to c. 60 cm high; branchlets minutely hispid. Leaves reflexed or spreading (ascending when very young), narrowly lanceolate to oblong, 4–12 mm long, 1–2.7 mm wide, convex or flat, slightly discolorous, glabrous with margins scabrous-ciliate, lower surface weakly 5–9-veined; apex acute, straight or slightly recurved. Flowers white, crowded, (5–)10–25 in terminal or upper-axillary spikes 5–13 mm long, spikes sometimes clustered at branch-tips; bracteoles ovate, 0.7–1.7 mm long, broadly acute or obtuse, glabrous; sepals ovate-oblong, 1.3–2 mm long, obtuse, glabrous; corolla 1.8–2.4 mm long, lobes subequal to or slightly longer than tube, acute, spreading, densely bearded within; anthers with short, slightly recurved sterile tips; ovary 2-locular, glabrous, style tapering, 0.2–0.3 mm long. Fruit. ellipsoid, c. 2.5 mm long. Flowers Jul.–Oct.