Flowering occurs from August to October and the fruit which follow are woody, cup-shaped capsules 3–5.5 mm (0.1–0.2 in) long and wide in loose clusters along the stem.

The first formal, valid description was by the Dutch botanist, Friedrich Miquel in 1856 and published in Nederlandsch Kruidkundig Archief.

[5][6] The type specimen was collected "Ad flumen three-Wells-river insulae Halmaturorum",[6] a Latin phrase meaning "near the Three Wells River on Kangaroo Island".

[8] The specific epithet (halmaturorum) refers to Kangaroo Island where the type specimen was collected.

[4][11] In Victoria it occurs in the Mallee, Loddon Murray, Central and Northern and Wimmera bioregions but is becoming rare due to invasion by tall wheat grass (Lophopyrum ponticum).