Hemi-parasitic plant up to 30cm. Lance-shaped leaves are coarsely toothed below and longer than the flower buds. Flowers are solitary in the axils, yellow to orange with darker veins.

Seeds are very small and up to 1000 seeds may be found in a single capsule.

The common name Verfblommetjie refers to the early use of the root stock as an orange yellow dye used for colouring fabric.