Small fragrant annual, 5-25 cm. Stems slender, branched or not almost glabrous or with tomentose white eglandular hairs. Leaves ovate-elliptic, c. 2 x 1 cm, crenulate, cuneate, acute, with a sparse short eglandular indumentum, densely gland-dotted abaxially; petiole c. 1 cm. Inflorescence of lateral and terminal, 1.5-3 x 0.8 cm, tightly condensed spikes, sometimes solitary. Bracts very broad, ovate-circular, truncate-rounded with or without a short mucro, surrounding inflorescence axis, ± membranous, tightly imbricate. Flowers almost hidden by bracts. Calyx 1.5-2 mm with narrow triangular teeth. Corolla c. 3.5 mm purplish. Nutlets not seen.