The species has a superficial resemblance to E. obliqua in the section Pachysa. The latter species is distingusihed by its very much smaller and sparser growth and sticky flowers. The leaves, although they are on long petioles and are delicate, are not arranged to one side of the stem as is often the case in E. inflata. It is also closely related to E. sonora Compton from the Gifberg, Vanrhynsdorp, resembling it in habit of growth, leaves and inflorescence. The latter species differs, however, in having shorter pedicels, smaller flowers with a relatively broader globose corolla which is broadest above the middle and in having short and broad anther crests. In E. infiata the appendages are long and narrow.
Erect shrub up to 90 cm (3 ft) or so. Branches numerous, slender, erect, often virgate, leafy. Leaves 4-nate, or scattered1-2 cm long, including the petiole, suberect or incurved, not crowded, often pointing to one side, very slender, narrowly linear, acute, mucronate or aristate, glabrous, flat above, convex and faintly sulcate below, petioles long and very slender. Flowers in dense many-flowered umbels; peduncles 1.2-1.4 cm long, slender, pubescent, red; bracts median, slender, red. Sepals 2-3 mm long, lanceolate or subulate, acuminate, glabrous or pubescent, crimson or pallid, aristate. Corolla 6-8 mm long, ovoid-urceolate, throat contracted, dry, glabrous; tube pale to dark pink, throat and lobes darker; lobes stellately spreading at first, later turning brown and closing, about imm long. Anthers 1 mm long, lateral, semiovate or broad, subcuneate, purple, appendiculate; pore 1/3-2/5 the length of the cell; awns inserted above the middle of the cell and equal to or exceeding it in length, capillary, much involute. Ovary on a distinct, broad shortish stipe, oblong-turbinate, glabrous; style subexserted; stigma capitate.
Erect shrublet to 1 m. Flowers medium, urn-shaped, dark pink.
