Cyanea mceldowneyi, a shrub in the Campanulaceae (bellflower) family, has adult leaves which are 20 to 35 cm (8 to 14 in) long by 5 to 9 cm (2 to 3.5 in) wide and have wedge-shaped bases, hardened teeth; sometimes with a few short prickles on the upper surface. Young leaves are the same width as adult leaves but shorter, and have rounded bases, hardened marginal teeth, and a greater number of prickles. Flowers are in clusters of five to seven, each cluster with a stalk 15 to 30 mm (0.6 to 1.2 in) long end each flower with a stalk 10 to 14 mm (0.4 to 0.6 in) long. Petals, white with purple stripes, are fused into a curved tube 4 cm (1.6 in) long and 8 mm (0.3 in) wide with small prickles on the lobes. Berries have not been described.