Annual with much-branched erect or ascending stems up to 12 cm. long. Basal lvs ∞, close-set, coriac.; lamina ± 8-20 × 3-7 mm., oblong-spathulate to linear-oblong, ± fleshy, often recurved, gradually narrowed into a broad flat petiole. Cauline lvs similar, smaller. Fls solitary in axils of upper lvs, often 8, c. 8-12 mm. (us. distinctly smaller than in G. cerina), sessile or shortly pedicelled. Calyx c. ? corolla-length, cut 3/4 way into linear-oblong, obtuse lobes. Corolla white streaked with red or purple or altogether red; rotate to subcampanulate, lobes narrow- to obovate-oblong, obtuse, 2-3 mm. wide.

Plants monocarpic, probably biennial, height in flower 27–150 mm. Caudex unbranched. Flowering stems terminal only or terminal and lateral with 1–4 flowering stems per plant, stems 0.7–3.4 mm diam. when dry, lateral flowering stems erect, flowering stem leaves 2–4 pairs per stem, lowest pedicels from halfway up flowering stem. Rosette of leaves distinct or not very distinct from flowering stem leaves; leaves narrowly elliptic, 15–32 mm long, 3.7–8.0 mm wide, margin thickened, apex rounded, petiole indistinct, c. 10 mm long, 1.0–1.5(–2.5) mm wide at narrowest point. Pedicels 1 or 2 per leaf axil, 4.0–7.0(–11.5) mm long, 0.9–1.1 mm diam., 0.4–0.6 mm diam. when dry. Flowers (1–)2–22 per plant, 10.5–12 mm long. Calyx 6.0–8.8 mm long; lobes 5.1–8.0 mm long, 2.0–2.3 mm wide at base, plane, apices acute or obtuse, margins minutely denticulate, hairs at calyx–corolla fusion line present, sinus hairs absent. Corolla 8.7–13 mm long, ranging from white to strongly coloured, with purple veins and/or with weak to strong red to purple tinting; tube 2.0–3.0 mm long; lobes 6.7–10.0 mm long, 4.2– 6.1 mm wide, hairs below sinus present or absent; nectary 1.2–1.5 mm from corolla base. Filaments 4.1–8.0 mm long from corolla base, 0.55–0.7 mm wide. Anthers 1.2–1.8 mm long. Stigma purple. Ovules 13–40 per ovary. Capsule 7.7–9.0 mm long. FL Nov–Feb(–Apr).