Description.—Shrub, very dwarf, 8-10 in. high, with a 
neat rounded crown; branches slender, and with black 
scales; younger twigs leafy, short, with golden scales. 
Leaves persistent, elliptic or obovate, obtuse or rounded, 
base somewhat cuneate, including the petal }-2 in. long, 
s-z In. wide, thick, densely covered with scales on both 
surfaces. Bud-scales ciliate, the outer suborbicular, the 
inner oblanceolate, scaly outside on the upper portion. 
Corymbs terminal, 1-2-flowered. Flowers subsessile, 32 in. 
across. Calyx covered with scales outside; lobes oblong 
with rounded tips, very short, sparingly ciliate upwards. 
Corolla pale purple; tube short, sparingly hairy upwards 
on the inner side; lobes subequal, ovate, rounded at the 
tip, spreading, glabrous. Stamens 9-11; filaments white- 
pubescent near the base; anthers far exserted, tawny, 
barely 1 lin. long. Ovary densely clothed with scales ; 
style about as long as the filaments, glabrous; stigma 
thickened. | 
Fig. 1, a leaf; 2, leaf-scales; 8, calyx and pistil; 4, longitudinal section of 
calyx and ovary; 5, corolla, laid open; 6 and 7, stamens :—all enlarged. 
