Cyrtandra hematos, a member of the Gesneriaceae (African violet) family, is 0.3 to 2 m (1 to 7 ft) tall, with minimally branched stems. The leaves are in whorls of 3 to 4 per node, often closely spaced and born on upper 5 to 8 nodes. The upper surface is bullate-hairy (blistered), the lower surface with sparse flattened hairs on the principle vein; leaf margins are serrate. The leaf apex is acuminate. Flowers are solitary, arising from the leaf axils or occasionally along stems, smooth or with sparse flattened hairs, peduncles 8 to 10 mm (0.3 to 0.4 in) long, pedicels 8 to 22 mm (0.3 to 1 in) long, bracts oblong to elliptical and 8 to 10 mm (0.3 to 0.4 in) long, caduous (falling off early). The calyx is nearly actinomorphic (radially symmetrical), greenish, 8 to 9 mm (0.3 to 0.4 in) long with a cleft at the base and oblong to narrowly lanceolate; and glabrate or with sparse flattened hairs, glabrous within, and apex acute. The corolla is white and narrowly tubular, funnelform, immature size approximately 1 to 2 cm (0.4 to 1 in) long. The berries are ovoid (solid object that is egg-shaped), 1.2 cm (0.5 in) long when immature.