Perennial herb to 75 cm. from a woody rootstock or rarely annual; stems branched, woody at base, softly velvety with dense grey spreading hairs which are not tubercle-based.. Leaf-blades ovate to ovate-lanceolate, (1.5–)2–7(–11) cm. long, 0.8–3.5(–7.5) cm. wide, ± acute at the apex, broadly cuneate at the base, softly velvety like the stems; when worn the close granular-like tubercle-bases are visible; petioles 0.3–2(–4.5) cm. long.. Inflorescence a panicle of scorpioid cymes, each eventually 4–10 cm. long, softly velvety; flowers numerous, densely placed, sessile.. Calyx with indumentum similar to stems, 2.5–4.2 mm. long, the lobes linear-oblong to lanceolate, 2.2–4 mm. long, 0.5–0.8 mm. wide.. Corolla white; tube narrow, slightly swollen below the middle, equalling or longer than the calyx, 3–4 mm. long, adpressed pubescent outside; limb ± 4–5 mm. wide, the lobes ovate or oblong, 2 mm. long, 1.5 mm. wide, crinkly, mostly with no interlobal teeth, adpressed pubescent on midrib outside.. Anthers included or tips just exserted, 1.5 mm. long.. Style stout, 0.6–1 mm. long, puberulous; stigma elongate-conic, 1.2 mm. long, puberulous, slightly bifid at apex, with lobulate ring at base but not produced.. Nutlets ± trigonous, 1.8 mm. long, 0.8 mm. wide, slightly rugulose, very slightly winged at margins.. Fig. 14/1, p.54.
Open scrub vegetation with succulents, at elevations from 350-700 metres. In Egypt it grows along the banks of the Nile and in moist, stony ground.
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