Perennial herb typically with nodular roots, glabrous except for infl.; stems to c. 60 cm tall, angled. Petioles to 4 cm long. Lamina to 10 × 6 cm, ovate or triangular-ovate, irregularly serrate; base broadly subcordate or cordate, sometimes with lamina shortly attenuate on petiole; apex sharply acute. Cymes in panicles in the axils of mostly linear bracts, shortly glandular-hairy; rachis angled. Pedicels often several × > fls. Calyx 2–3 mm long; lobes broad-ovate; margins narrow-scarious, entire, or erose towards apex. Corolla 7–11 mm long, greenish with dark reddish brown, erect upper lip with rounded lobes. Staminode much wider than long; apex truncate to retuse. Capsule c. 6 mm long, broad-ovoid. Seed not seen.
[From: Webb et al. (1988) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 4.]
Flowering: Dec.–Apr.