Rigid, erect shrub to 1 m high; stems striate, virtually glabrous. Basal leaves sessile, few, ovate-spathulate, to 60 mm long and 15 mm wide, toothed, soon withering; cauline leaves mostly reduced to recurved, ovate or triangular scales, 1–3 mm long. Flowers in loose thyrses or racemes to 20 cm long; peduncles 1–6 cm long, similar to branchlets; bracteoles triangular, 2–4 mm long. Sepals triangular, 1–4 mm long, connate at base, persistent; corolla 20–30 mm long, finely pubescent outside, densely bearded inside, cream to blue, wings to c. 1 mm wide; indusium depressed-obovate, with bristles at base equalling or exceeding those at orifice. Fruit ellipsoid, 5–8 mm long, ribbed, tuberculate, glabrescent. Flowers mainly Apr.–Dec.