Tufted perennial up to 40cm with a thick tap root and trailing branches. Leaves succulent, 3-angled, long; bears solitary, large yellow flowers on long pedicels, up to 10cm across; petals in numerous series, narrow; staminodes numerous; fruits cone-shaped.

Opening in the afternoon.

Greek; conos = a pine-cone, -icus = indicates 'belonging to; referring to the cone-shape of the capsule.