The leaf upper surface has either small wart-like protuberances or smooth with occasional long hairs.

The seed capsule is a swollen firm, egg-shaped pod and covered with long soft hairs.

[2][3] Common aotus was first formally described in 1803 by Étienne Pierre Ventenat who gave it the name Pultanaea ericoides and the description was published in Jardin de la Malmaison.

[4] In 1832 the Scottish botanist George Don changed the name to Aotus ericoides and the description was published in A General History of Dichlamydeous Plants.

[7] It occurs in heathland and dry sclerophyll forests on sandstone in Queensland, South Australia, Victoria and Tasmania.