A  perennial herb or shrublet up to 300 mm high. Leaves leathery, dull green, oblong to oblanceolate, base tapering into a short petiole, apex ends in a sharp point, midvein and lateral veins prominent. Stems angular, young stems less woody and covered with hairs, internodes variable in length.

Flowers are yellow, solitary in the upper axils, short upper internodes between the uppermost flowers give the impression of a terminal inflorescence. Corolla 2-lipped, the upper lip 4-lobed, the lower lip entire and sometimes shorter than the upper lip; corolla subtended by stiff, spinous, lanceolate calyx lobes; corolla tube short and cylindrical. Stamens and stigma brightly coloured. Axillary spines 2-4 in clusters. Flowering time: November to March during which flowers appear sporadically.

Fruit a capsule, turgid and rounded at the base and the apex ends in a stout solid conical beak. There are 2 seeds per capsule. Ripe capsules explode, when moistened, to disperse the seed.