Semisucculent herb or soft shrub 0.6-1.2 m tall with several stems arising from a thickened rootstock; stems ascending, 7-15 mm in diameter at the base, sparingly branched, densely grey tomentose, hairs dendroid (branched). Leaves shortly petiolate; blade fleshy, drying subcoriaceous, ovate-elliptic to obovate, 16-30 x 15-20 mm, thinly to densely tomentose and gland-dotted on both surfaces, hairs dendroid and simple, apex rounded, base cuneate to obtuse, margin crenate in the upper two-thirds. Inflorescence congested, 80-140 mm long; bracts somewhat leaf-like, ovate, 12 mm long near the base, progressively smaller towards the apex. Calyx about 7 mm long at fruiting stage; upper tooth ovate-lanceolate, acuminate, not decurrent on the tube. Corolla bluish mauve with darker spots on the upper lip and lateral lobes; tube narrowly cylindrical, 15-20 mm long, not expanding at the base; upper lip erect, 6-8 mm long; lateral lobes 5-6 mm long; lower lip at first horizontal and boat-shaped, later reflexed, 5-6 mm long. Stamens up to 5 mm long.
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