Glabrescent or sparsely pubescent perennial to 1.5 m high; stems distinctly winged on angles. Leaves more or less glabrous above, glabrescent below; lamina ovate or elliptic-ovate or lyrate, 6–18 cm long, 2–6 cm wide, reticulate veined, margins crenate or rarely crenate-serrate, base broadly cuneate to subcordate or with 1–2 small basal leaflets, apex obtuse or rounded; petiole to 10 cm long. Flowers in dichasial cymes in axils of linear bracts with scarious margins; calyx 2–3.5 mm long; lobes broad-ovate, with scarious margins 0.5–1 mm wide, obtuse to rounded; corolla greenish below, reddish brown or purplish brown above, (4.5–) 5–7.5 (–8.5) mm; stamens extending to rim of corolla-tube; staminode orbicular to suborbicular, entire. Capsule ovoid or subglobose, 3.5–5.5 (–6.5) mm long. Flowers Aug.–Apr.
HSF. Also naturalised SA, Tas. Native to western Europe and north-west Africa. In Victoria recorded on a bank of the Yarra River near Templestowe.
