Slightly succulent perennial herb. Leaves mostly alternate, sometimes the uppermost opposite, obovate, elliptic to ovate-lanceolate, up to 25 mm long, often varying in shape and size on the same branch, mostly hairless; midrib, 2-3 pairs of lateral veins and a submarginal vein conspicuous; margin entire but ciliate. Inflorescence in terminal or axillary spikes, solitary or in clusters of 2-3, greenish.
3 varieties are recognised for Zimbabwe in FZ and details are as follows:
(var. bachmannii has not been recorded from Mozambique):
- Var. bachmannii (C.DC.) Düll: plant small; leaves mostly less than 1cm long; flower spike 5-15 mm long; peduncle 4-10 mm long;
- Var. retusa: plant larger; leaves obovate, up to 15 mm long; spike up to 30 mm long; peduncle 5-15 mm long; creeping stems leafless.
- Var. mannii (Hook.f.) Düll: plant larger; leaves ovate-elliptic, up to 30mm long; spike 20-50 mm long; peduncle more than 10 mm long; stems leafy throughout.
