Slender subshrub up to 30cm, branching mainly at base. Leaves are stalkless, solitary or clustered, needle-like to lance-shaped, pointed, dark green. Flowers are stalkless, in axils of leaf, usually pink. Capsules (seedpods) have slender horns.

Latin: fili = thread; referring to the slender habit of the plant and the needle-like leaves.

Latin: var. caledonensis, refers to the area in which this species is found, the Caledon area.

After: Johannes von Muralt (1645-1733), Swiss surgeon and botanist.