Herbaceous perennial plant (dies back in winter, surviving underground to grow up again next season). Stems and undersides of leaves covered in stellate hairs (branch at the free end into several radiating strands). This traps a layer of humid air around the surface to reduce water loss (adaptation to survival in dry conditions).

Upper leaves palmately divided into 5-7 blunt lobes, lower ones less dissected. Whole plant has bushy appearance with many branches, each flower arises singly along stems from axils of leaves.

Hibiscus-like flowers, 4-7cm diameter, distinct central, bottle-brush’ columna, 1cm long with many fused stamens, typical for this family.

Petals rolled in bud form, surrounded by ring of 5 sepals fused at base with ring of modified leaves (bracts). See photo button !D! below.

Fruit a disc-shaped ring of seeds (4-8mm diameter) that later breaks up into segments.

This is a tall upright biennial or perennial plant with a long, fleshy, spindle-shaped root anchoring it firmly in the ground. The plant may survive the winter in the form of leaf buds near the base of the stem near the root, the rest of the plant dying back. The flowers are carried on upright stems about 2cm long, whereas the longer leaf stems project at a broad angle to the main stem.

The large showy flowers have heart-shaped petals, pinkish with deep purple stripes radiating from centre. Before opening the petals form an elongated roll, several times longer than the sepals. The central columna, typical for this family, is formed of fused stamens that shed their pollen in the first male phase of flowering. When this is over, the female phase begins and hairy filaments of the stigmas spread to catch pollen brought by visiting insects from other flowers.

Fruits are in the form of round cheeses with each kidney-shaped segment a separate seed.