Streptoglossa macrocephala is an upright perennial herb or shrub to 30–100 cm (12–39 in) high.

The leaves and branches are strongly fragrant, and covered with soft, weak, separated thin hairs to almost smooth, thickly glandular and occasionally shiny.

The leaves are oblong-lance shaped, egg-shaped or elliptic, 10–38 mm (0.39–1.50 in) long, 4–15 mm (0.16–0.59 in) wide, stem clasping or rarely gradually narrowing at the base, margins smooth or toothed or slightly lobed, and rounded or pointed at the apex.

Flowering occurs from July to September and the fruit is dry, one-seeded, 3–4.5 mm (0.12–0.18 in) long, ribbed and covered in silky, flattened hairs.

[4] In 1981 Clyde Robert Dunlop changed the name to Streptoglossa macrocephala and the description was published in Journal of the Adelaide Botanic Garden.