Perennial, soboliferous, multistemmed, strongly aromatic shrub. ± 1.2 x 1.5 m; aerial stems sparsely branched. Roots succulent, up to 14 mm diam. Stems herbaceous, semisucculent, woody at base, prominently 4-angled, laterally compressed decussately below nodes (distinctly rectangular, 10 x 8 mm in t/s), with a pair of longitudinal ridges from each leaf base, decurrent along angles on each side, usually continuing on two opposing sides through gap between next proximal leaf pair, to upper side of second leaf base; tomentose with translucent, multicellular hairs, often glandular-capitate, and sessile, orange, glandular trichomes; older stems somewhat terete, up to 30 mm diam., becoming scabrous due to further growth of verrucose trichome bases, rusty brown, longitudinally fissured in a reticulate pattern exposing the green tissue below. Leaves recurved, conduplicate unless mature and turgid, broadly ovate to ovate-deltoid, (55-)90-120(-210) x (40-)55-90(-150) mm, older leaves progressively larger from growing tip; apex obtuse to acute, base shortly attenuate and decurrent on petiole, margin serrate-dentate to serrate-crenate with 10-12 pairs of teeth 3-5 mm long, apical and marginal teeth with a cream-coloured spot visible on adaxial surface, terminating veins that end in each tooth; thick-textured, semisucculent, drying chartaceous, adaxial surface moderately glandular-pubescent, abaxial surface prominently reticulate-veined, densely glandular-tomentose, with sessile, orange-coloured, glandular trichomes, veins densely glandular-hairy and with similar sessile, glandular trichomes; petiole ascending, (7-)10(-25 mm) long, conduplicate wings of decurrent lamina base often forming a short channel, glandular-tomentose; abscission layer about 4-6 mm from base, resulting in a distinctly raised leaf scar, adaxially obtusely v-channelled, abaxially rounded, comers shortly acuminate, with a decurrent ridge on either side. Inflorescence a terminal racemoid thyrse, 200-400 mm long and with a pair of side branches at base carried on short peduncles up to 50 mm long; rachis square, 4 x 4 mm, reddish brown glandular-tomentose; bracts triangular-ovate, acuminate, 5 x 4 mm, persistent or caducous. Flowers in 7-flowered cymes forming 14-flowered verticillasters, the latter 20-30 mm apart; pedicels 8-10 mm long, densely glandular-hairy, apex inclined where attached to calyx. Calyx 5.4-8.3 mm long (in fruit), densely glandular-hairy and covered with sessile, orange, glandular trichomes; tube 3.0-3.5 mm long, curved, slightly gibbous at base, with pedicel attached at upper side, mid-tube somewhat dorsoventrally flattened, 2.0 x 1.5 mm, throat glabrous upper lip ascending, broadly ovate or broadly elliptic, 3.2-4.0 x 2.7-3.0 mm, obtuse to acute; lower lip 4-toothed, teeth deltoid, 3 x 0.8-1.0 mm wide, acuminate; lower pair of teeth slightly narrower and longer. Corolla 2-lipped, somewhat sigmoid, 16 mm long, white to slightly mauve tinged, glandular-hairy and sparsely dotted with sessile, orange, glandular trichomes; tube 1.8 mm wide for 1 mm from base, then sharply inclined (diverging 45°-60° from raceme axis) for 4 mm, mid-tube ± abruptly bent downwards (vertically) for 5.5-6.0 mm, expanding towards mouth; upper lip spreading, unequally 4-lobed, two median lobes larger and 2 mm high (each with a group of sessile, orange-glandular trichomes on their adaxial side), lateral lobes obscure (0.5 mm long) and decurrent on mouth; lower lip boat-shaped, tilted down ± 20°, 10-12 mm long. Stamens 4, didynamous; filaments adnate to anterior side of tube beyond bend, projecting from throat as a connate staminal furrow for ± 3 mm, free for ± 5 mm, mauve, curved out-and upward, exserted ± a third of length of lower lip; anthers versatile, 0.8 mm long, purple, becoming black; pollen yellow. Style enveloped by staminal furrow, free for ± 5 mm; stigma bifid. Nutlets 1 mm long, smooth, dark brown.
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