Schiedea kaalae, a member of the pink family, has a short woody caudex less than 20 cm (8 in) long. The thick. single-veined leaves are bunched at the top of the stem; they are long and elliptic or broader toward the tip and can reach a length of 24 cm (9.4 in) and a width of 6 cm (2.4 in). Flowers are in an open. much branched inflorescence (panicle) usually 20 to 40 cm (8 to 16 in) long. The flowers lack petals but have purple bracts and sepals, which are 3 to 4 mm (0.1 to 0.2 in) long. Stamens and nectaries each number five and are about 4 to 5 mm (0.2 in) long. Capsules are about 4 mm (0.2 in) long, and seeds are dark grayish brown and about 1 mm (0.04 in) long. This species can be distinguished from other members of its genus by its very short stems and its thick leaves with one conspicuous vein.