Plants up to 35cm high. Leaf is usually dry at flowering, erect, lanceolate to heart-shaped, leathery with sometimes a red margin. Flowers in a slender, often sub-secund (to one side), spike-like raceme on a slender peduncle, cup-shaped, white and slightly scented; pedicels 2-3mm long.

Greek: erion = wool; sperma = seed; referring to the seed which is covered with white hairs.