Dense shrub, 1-2.5 m high, to 3 m across. Leaves 3-6.5 cm long, usually pinnatipartite (occasionally a few leaves entire and linear) with (3-) 5-11 linear to subulate, spreading, subdivaricate, rigid, pungent lobes; longest lobes 1-3 cm long, 1-1.5 mm wide; margins tightly and smoothly revolute; lower surface enclosed except for midveins, with appressed flexuose hairs in grooves. Unit conflorescence erect, secund, acropetal to subsynchronous; floral rachis 40-90 mm long. Flower colour: perianth green to fawn outside, becoming reddish to blackish green inside at anthesis; style bright yellow to orange. Perianth subsericeous to tomentose outside, with both biramous and simple erect hairs. Pistil 17-22 mm long; style glabrous except for hairs persisting near base, lacking distinct dorsal hump below style-end. Follicle 8.5-14 mm long, tomentose with both biramous and simple erect glandular hairs.
Grows often on stony ridges and in rocky situations, in gravelly or sandy loam soils, often on sandstone.