Rhizomatous perennial herb to 1.2 m high, with a foetid odour; branches with long spreading septate hairs mixed with shorter glandular hairs toward inflorescence. Leaves ovate to broadly ovate, lamina 2–12 cm long, 0.7–8 cm wide, surfaces with sparse to dense eglandular hairs, apex acuminate to obtuse, base cordate; petiole 2.5–7 cm long. Inflorescence with 6(–8) flowers per bract or leaf axil. Calyx 10-veined, 5–7 mm long, glandular-pubescent, often purplish, lobes acuminate, slightly shorter than tube; corolla dull reddish-purple with white markings, tube slightly longer than abaxial lobe; lower pair of stamens c. equal to upper pair. Flowers summer–autumn.
GipP, HSF. Native to temperate Eurasia. Naturalised on the side of Sherbrook Road in the Dandenong Range.
