Perennial herb, 0.07-0.35 m high; with woody rootstock; stems stellate-setose. Leaves narrowly oblong, entire, margins and nerves appressed stellate-setulose, apex acute, base narrowly cuneate, 3-5-nerved. Flowers axillary, solitary, up to 80 mm in diam.; peduncles up to 60 mm long, articulated ± 5 mm below apex. Epicalyx of 7 or 8 bracts, up to 18 mm long, linear, acute. Calyx exceeding epicalyx in length; lobes ovate-lanceolate, slightly joined at base, ± stellate-setose. Petals obovate, purple. Staminal tube 10-12 mm long; filaments 1-2 mm long. Flowering time Dec.-Mar. Fruit a subglobose, setose capsule. Seeds subreniform, tomentellous.
Annual, occasionally perennial herb, up to 0.35 m high. Leaves with blade linear to very narrowly oblong or linear-elliptic, 5-11 x as long as broad, up to 75 x 5 mm, margins with a few sharp teeth or deeply incised with narrow lobes. Flowers: segments of epicalyx > 10 mm long; petals up to 35 mm long, yellowish, cream-coloured, white or purple; Sep.-Apr. Seeds nearly glabrous, pubescent or tomentose.
Herb, up to 300 mm tall. Leaves linear to very narrowly oblong or linear-elliptic, 5-11 times as long as broad, with few sharp teeth or deeply incised with narrow lobes. Bracts of epicalyx 10 mm long or longer. Flowers yellowish, cream, white or purple.