Spreading shrub to 2 m high; young stems densely stellate-pubescent. Leaves oblong-lanceolate, 1–6 cm long, 10–25 mm wide, cordate to hastate at base, margins serrate, lower surface densely stellate-tomentose, upper surface darker and less hairy. Flowers dimorphic, solitary; peduncles 10–30 mm long; epicalyx segments ovate, 4–6 mm long, more than two-thirds the length of calyx; calyx 6–8 mm long, tomentose; petals 12–25 mm long, reddish or pale purple with a dark basal spot; cleistogamous flowers with petals shorter than the calyx, remaining erect, stamens 5, enclosed by the petals. Fruit c. 8 mm diam., mericarps reticulate with a prominent rib, pubescent to glabrescent. Flowers Feb.–Mar. (1 record).
VRiv. Qld, NSW. Native to South America, highly invasive in northern New South Wales and Queensland, currently only known in Victoria from a single population on a highly disturbed sand hill beside the Goulburn River at Shepparton.
