Melhania phillipsiae grows as a shrub up to 2 metres (7 ft) tall.

The ovate leaves are tomentose and measure up to 12 cm (5 in) long.

Inflorescences are two to six-flowered on a stalk measuring up to 5 cm (2 in) long.

[3] Melhania phillipsiae is native to an area from Niger east to the Arabian Peninsula.

[2] In Oman, Saudi Arabia and Yemen it occurs on mountain slopes.