Stout perennial ± 25-50-(60) cm. tall. Stems 1 to several arising from a stout woody often multicipital stock, simple, terete, stout, decumbent at base, striate, margined. Basal lvs us. ∞, densely rosulate, spreading; lamina 15-20-(40) × 8-15-(20) mm., broadly obovate-spathulate, coriac., 3-5-nerved, rounded or subacute, gradually narrowed into broad flat petiole 5-10 mm. long. Cauline lvs in 2-6 distant pairs, sessile or sts with very short petioles; lamina broad-ovate to oblong, ± 20 × 15 mm., 3-5-(7)-nerved, obtuse to subacute, often cordate at base. Infl. a broad, up to 10-fld, umbelliform, terminal, involucrate cyme; bracts broad, us. whorled. Pedicels 2*5-5 cm. long, slender to rather stout. Calyx c. 15 mm. long, cut 3/4 way into narrow-subulate acute to acuminate lobes. Corolla white, c. 25 mm. long, cut at least 1/2 way into broad-oblong to obovate, rounded, subacute to obtuse lobes.

Erect annual with rather slender, simple, terete, very finely striate, margined stems 25-45 cm. long; internodes between cauline lvs 7-8 cm. long. Basal lvs few, thin, 3-5-nerved, reticulations evident; lamina 25-35 × 10-16 mm., narrow-ovate to ovate or occ. obovate, subacute, narrowed into thin flat petiole 15-20 mm. long or more. Lowest cauline lvs similar but shorter; upper in c. 4 pairs, ovate-cuneate to subcordate, sessile, ± 20 × 10 mm. Infl. a terminal 4-7-fld bracted umbel, with or without a few long-peduncled smaller umbels or solitary fls. Bracts lflike, subtending umbel. Calyx nearly 1/2 corolla-length, cut at least ⅔ way into linear-subulate 1-nerved subacuminate lobes. Corolla c. 16 mm. long, cut ⅔way into obovate rounded lobes.

2n = 36

Plants polycarpic or monocarpic and biennial, height in flower (45–)70–570 mm. Caudex unbranched or branched, 10–160 mm long, with leaf scars. Stolons present or absent. Flowering stems single and terminal or multiple and both terminal and lateral, 1–23 per plant; largest flowering stem 1.4–6.1 mm diam. at base, 1.4–4.1 mm diam. when dry, green, tinted crimson, purple-black, or bronze, flowering stems erect from a decumbent base, flowering stem leaves 2–7, lowest pedicels from near the base to near the apex of stem. Rosette of leaves usually distinct, leaves narrow rhomboid, elliptic, or orbicular, 14–98 mm long, 3.5–18 mm wide, flat or V-shaped, not recurved, bronze or crimson below; apex acute or rounded; petiole indistinct or distinct and 9–45 mm long, 1.4–7.5 mm wide at narrowest point. Pedicels 1–2 per leaf axil, 5–38 mm long, 0.8–2.0 mm diam., 0.5–1.1 mm diam. when dry. Flowers 1–49(–120) per plant, 17–20 mm long. Calyx 6.6–11.8 mm long, green or tinted crimson or purple-black, hairs at calyx–corolla fusion line present; lobes 4.4–9.6 mm long, 1.8–4.0 mm wide at base, plane, apices acute, margins convex, smooth or minutely denticulate, sinus hairs absent or present. Corolla 11–24 mm long, white, veins purple or uncoloured; tube 2.3–5.0 mm long; lobes 10–16 mm long, 5.4–11.3 mm wide, hairs below sinus absent or present; nectary 0.4–1.3 mm from corolla base. Filaments 6–11 mm long from corolla base, 0.6–1.8 mm wide. Anthers 1.7–3.2 mm long, anther wall blueblack, mouth yellow, extrorse, rarely horizontal at anthesis; pollen yellow. Stigma colourless, or blue to violet. Ovules 32–88 per ovary. Capsule 15–28 mm long.