When stunted, it somewhat resembles Monanthes laxiflora but differs from any form of that variable species in its distinctly shrubby habit, alternate (not opposite) longer and narrower leaves which are green, red, or purplish, never grey, and ovoid buds, the buds of M. laxiflora being broader than long.

Branches grey, tortuous, bare save near the apices (more leafy in cultivation).

Leaves alternate, not rosulate, sessile, glabrous, linear-elliptic (or in cultivation linear), rather blunt, subtereta, flattish and channelled on face, about 1.5 cm (in cultivation up to 2.5 cm) long, 4 mm broad, 3 mm thick, green, in exposure red or purple.

Inflorescence pseudo-terminal, 2 to 6 flowered, racemose, pedicels glabrous, filiform, up to 2.5 cm long.

Scales 1 mm long, 1,5mm broad, narrow below, expanded above into two subcircular scrabid pale green lobes.