Erect or somewhat spreading biennial or perennial soft-stemmed suffrutex or shrub, 1–2 m. tall, usually densely and rather shortly pubescent to subvelutinous (but both very hairy and sparsely pubescent extremes occur); stems rather stout, terete, with greyish or brownish pubescence, glabrescent. Leaf-lamina variable in dimensions, 2·5–12 × 2–15 cm., but usually of fairly uniform size on one specimen, usually broadly ovate to suborbicular in outline, usually 3–5-lobed almost to the middle, central lobe always the largest with usually gradually acute somewhat acuminate apex, the other lobes usually acute, base ± cordate, both surfaces usually finely pubescent or subhispid mainly on the veins and on the lower surface, the latter not infrequently subtomentose; petiole usually 1 -8–6 cm. long (that of lower leaves occasionally much longer), pubescent to velutinous; stipules minute, filiform, pubescent, usually caducous. Flowers mauve, pink or rose, solitary in the upper axils and on short lateral branches, often forming a terminal narrow leafy pseudo-panicle; pedicels usually under 9 mm. long, slender, tomentose and with additional long soft hairs. Epicalyx of 5 bracts; bracts 5–8 mm. long, linear or narrowly lanceolate, pubescent, nearly free. Calyx about as long as or a little longer than the epicalyx, cupuliform-campanulate, pubescent and ciliate, lobed to about the middle or a little beyond; lobes triangular, acute to apiculate, conspicuously 3-nerved. Petals 2–2·5 cm. long. Staminal tube glabrous. Mericarps c. 3 mm. long, muticous, glabrous or nearly so, dorsally reticulate with slightly raised ridges. Seeds 3–3·5 × 2–2·5 mm., reniform, glabrous.
