Shrubs or trees, to 4 m. Leaves sessile or amplexicaul; blade lanceolate, 1.5–6 mm. Inflorescences 2–15 cm × 5–10 mm; bract exceeding pedicel, sometimes reaching calyx tip. Flowers 4–5-merous; sepals 2 mm, margins entire or denticulate; petals obovate to ovate, 2–5 mm; antisepalous stamens 4–5, filaments confluent with nectar disc lobes, antipetalous stamens 1–4, smaller, filaments alternate with nectar disc lobes, all originating from edge of disc.

Flowering spring(–summer). Coastal areas; 0–300 m; introduced; Ga.; sw Asia; ne Africa.