Herb or undershrub, up to 2.5 m tall, usually densely stellate tomentose all over. Leaves 2.5-6 cm long, 2-5 cm broad, subcordate-rounded at base, acute at apex, serrate to crenate, not lobed or shallowly 3 to 7-lobed, broadly ovate to orbicular, densely pubescent on both surfaces; petiole 1-5 cm long; stipules filiform, 2-4 mm long. Flowers axillary, solitary; pedicel 1.5-3 cm long, in fruit up to 5 cm ± articulate in the middle; epicalyx segments 8-12, linear, 6-10 (-20) mm long, 1 mm broad, simple hairy on the margin, erect, in fruit spreading to generally reflexed. Calyx fused below the middle, 5 nerved, reticulately veined, 1.5-2 cm long, in fruit 2.5 cm or more, simple and 2 rayed hairy within; lobes ovate, acute, 5 mm broad, in fruit very broadly ovate. 1-1.3 cm broad. Corolla 4-6 cm across, pale yellow to yellow with a purple centre; petals 3-5 cm long, 2-3 cm broad, outside with simple and 2 rayed hairs towards the top, glabrescent, obovate. Staminal column 1-2 cm long, regularly antheriferous all over, glabrous. Ovary ovoid, pubescent 3-4 mm long. Capsule globular, 1-1.5 cm across, with 3-5 cm long spiny beak, 5 winged, wings somewhat bristly. Seeds 2-4 in each cell, reniform 2-3 mm across, regularly verruculose.

Holotype: Angola, Welwitsch 5326 (BM!).

Distribution: Tropical and subtropical regions of the Old World. In Pakistan it occurs in Punjab and N.W.F.P.

This subspecies differs from Fioria vitifolia L. ssp. vitifolia in the density of indumentum and leaf incision. In the present subspecies the stem and leaves are usually densely stellate pubescent. Leaves entire to shallowly 3-7 lobed. While in Fioria vitifolia L. ssp. vitifolia the stem and leaves are usually sparsely pubescent. Further, the leaves are commonly deeply 3-7 lobed.