Annual up to 50cm, minutely hairy. Leaves are stipulate (stipule = outer leaf-like appendage at base of leaf stalk), threadlike, to narrow, fleshy; flowers are blue, mauve or pink; seedpods are narrow.

Latin: subula = awl; referring to the awl-shaped leaves, tapering from a narrow base to a very fine point.

Greek: helios = sun, philios = loving, kind; referring to the plants favouring a sunny position; most Heliophila species only open in sunlight.