Perennial herb, 0.2-0.4 m high. Leaves mostly opposite, but uppermost and side branches sometimes alternate, broadly ovate, up to 40 x 22 mm, but usually much less, glabrous above, margins crenate to bluntly serrate; petioles pubescent, up to 14 mm long; stipules green, broadly lanceolate, up to 2 x 1.5 mm, ciliate, apex acute. Inflorescence axillary, involucres pubescent, globular in upper leaf axils, up to 2.5 mm in diam.; up to 10 male flowers and 1 or 2 female flowers; lower axils small and ovoid, each involucre with 1 or 2 female flowers. Flowering time Nov.-May. Fruit enclosed achenes in markedly lanate involucres.