Perennial, erect, shrub or undershrub, up to 1.5 m high; stem terete pubescent, leaves opposite decussate or in whorls of 4, ovate-lanceolate, about 5-12 x 2-5 cm, narrowed or decumbent on petioles, crowded near the inflorescence, entire, undulate, acute, glabrous above, thinly pubescent beneath, waxy undulate margins; flowers in terminal, axillary, dense, 4-sided, linear-oblong spikes; bracts glandular pubescent; bracteoles, unequal, about 1 cm long, linear; sepals-5, unequal, 7-9 mm long, lanceolate to ovate, acute, outer much larger, inner-2 smaller, rigid, subscarious; corolla orange yellow, lobes connate near middle, tube 2.5 cm long, narrow, slender, incurved, petals assymetrical, lower lip 3-5 lobed, upper lip with no spreading lobes; stamens 2+2, anther cells muticous; connective mucronate; ovary 2-locular, 4-ovuled, styleminutely bilobed at the tip; capsules up to 1.5 cm long, oblong, acute; glabrous; seeds 4, orbicular, compressed, densely covered with hygroscopic, fimbriate scales or hairs.