Variable, slender shrub, 30–200 cm high; branchlets shortly pilose to hispid. Leaves spreading to suberect, oblong to elliptic, 3–15 mm long, 1–2.5 mm wide, convex, concolorous, glabrous, scabrous or hispid above and/or below; margins entire, often strongly recurved; apex obtuse or acute, with mucro to c. 1 mm long. Flowers white or pale pink (pink in bud), 2–8 (usually c. 3) in axillary spikes 3–9 mm long; bracteoles ovate, 1–1.5 mm long, obtuse, keeled, glabrous to hispidulous; sepals ovate, 1.4–2.1 mm long, acute, glabrous (rarely pubescent); corolla 3–5.5 mm long, lobes slightly shorter to slightly longer than tube, acute, spreading, densely bearded within; anthers lacking sterile tips; ovary pubescent, 5-locular, style 0.7–1.5 mm long, ± level with summit of corolla tube. Fruit obovoid, often asymmetric, ridged, 2.5–5.5 mm long. Flowers Aug.–Oct.
LoM, Wim, GleP, Brid, VVP, VRiv, GipP, OtP, WaP, Gold, CVU, GGr, DunT, NIS, EGL, EGU, WPro, HSF, HNF, Strz, MonT, VAlp. Also SA, Qld, NSW, Tas. A common component of heaths and heathy woodlands on sandy or rocky ground in southern Victoria, occasionally occurring in damp forest on loamy soils (e.g. Kinglake, Gembrook). Rather uncommon north of the Dividing Range (e.g. Heathcote, Mansfield-Benalla, Mt Burrowa-Pine Mountain area).
