Plant is an upright, much branched annual. Preferred habitat is pine woods bogs, wet sandy soils and stream banks. Distribution is rare in the coastal region but is widespread throughout the Escambia region.

Leaves are opposite; partly divided but not extending to the midrib; two to three inches long with enrolled margins; smooth or slightly downy.

Flowers are in a panicle; solitary and on deflexed stalks. Calyx lobes are spreading and about 1/2 inch long. Tubular buds open into an irregular orange-yellow corolla; opening near the apex and exposing four large black stamens with hairy filaments and a threadlike style; bisexual; symmetrical. Flowers occur in the summer.

Like many members of the Figwort Family the plant is a root parasite.