a tall variable annual 4–8 ft. high; stems erect, branched, pubescent, subwoody at the base, obtusely quadrangular; leaves (in the South African specimens) 1–2 in. long, 1/2–1 1/4 in. broad, ovate, obtuse or acute, shortly and sparsely hairy and green above, pallid and tomentose below, margins irregularly crenate, base rounded or subcordate; petioles reaching 1 in. long, pubescent; cymes racemosely arranged, often forming a panicle, after flowering elongate, secund, pectinate; bracts 1 1/2 lin. long, setaceous, ciliate; calyx (flowering) 1 lin. long, (fruiting) 2 lin. long, tubular; tube pubescent, truncate and hairy within at the mouth; teeth 1/2 lin. long, setaceous, pilose; corolla pale purple or yellowish; tube scarcely reaching 1 lin. long, straight, slightly enlarged towards the mouth; stamens not exserted; style exserted, shortly 2-fid at the tip; nutlets 1/2 lin. long, ovoid-oblong, smooth, brown. null
