Erect perennial subshrub to c. 1 m high, pubescent on younger growth; stems usually several from base, each with 3–5 umbellately arranged terminal fertile branches which are further branched, each umbel subtended by a whorl of leaves. Cauline leaves sessile, alternate, oblong, narrowly ovate or obovate or elliptic, 2–7 cm long, 6–22 mm wide, glabrous, apex obtuse to rounded, margins serrulate in upper half, entire below; whorled leaves subtending fertile branches similar to cauline leaves. Cyathia solitary in upper pairs of leaf-like bracts, these becoming contracted toward the apex; peduncles to 1.5–5 mm long; involucre campanulate, 1.5–3 mm long; glands elliptic, 1–1.5 mm long, lacking appendages; female flowers with styles erect or up-curved. Capsule subglobose, c. 3 mm long and wide, the 3 lobes dorsally sparsely tuberculate, glabrous; seeds ellipsoid, 2–2.5 mm long, smooth, brown, caruncle reniform, fleshy, yellow to brown. Flowers mostly Sep.–Mar.
VRiv, GipP, CVU, HSF, HNF. Also NSW. Native to south-eastern Europe and Turkey. An occasional garden escape (Violet Town, Euroa area, Melbourne suburbs).
