Erect, strongly aromatic shrub up to 2m, much branched, with a woody main stem, side branches covered with long soft hairs. Leaves are 3-5 lobed lower down but cordate on the upper parts and can reach 10cm across; leaves glandular and partly covered with longish hairs; stipules are broadly ovate. Pink to carmine flowers are borne on longish, hairy stalks and grouped in umbels of 5-12 flowers; two upper petals are marked in carmine and white and are much larger than the three very narrow lower petals; 7 fertile stamens are present.

Latin: papilio, butterfly: referring to the 2 larger petals which give the flower a butterfly-like appearance.

The leaves have an unpleasant scent, described by some as that of a 'he-goat', hence the common name Rambossie.