Glabrous, branched subshrub to c. 50 cm high; stems erect, to c. 12 mm diam., somewhat wider towards base, pink with purplish bloom when young. Lvs opposite, subsessile or with broad petioles to 5 mm long. Lamina 3.5-7 × 2.5-5 cm, c. 2 mm thick, broadly elliptic or broadly elliptic-obovate, to almost rhombic, greenish brown with pale glaucous-purple bloom, shallowly crenate in upper 1/2; base cuneate; apex rounded. Infl. a large, broadly pyramidal panicle, rather flattened above. Pedicels 7-15 mm long; bracts numerous, larger towards base of infl. Calyx 7-15 mm long, divided almost to base; lobes unequal, lanceolate-oblong, green, acute. Corolla tube 13-14 mm long, dilated towards base, green or greenish yellow; lobes patent, 8-11 × 4.5-7 mm, ± elliptic, golden; apex mucronate. Stamens very unequal; outer (upper) whorl with filaments adnate to corolla for most of length; inner (lower) whorl with filaments c. 2 mm long. Carpels (including styles) 12-16 mm long. Scales 3-4 mm long, linear with forked apex. Follicles 9-10 mm long, including beak. Seed not seen.