Cyanea truncata, of the bellflower family (Campanulaceae), is an unbranched or sparsely branched shrub covered with small sharp prickles. The oval leaves, which are widest above the middle, are 22 to 60 cm (8 to 24 in) long and 10 to 26 cm (4 to 10 in) wide, and are lined with hardened teeth along the margins. The upper surface of the leaf is hairless; the lower surface is hairy, has sparse projections, and is pale green. Clusters of 8 to 40 white flowers with magenta stripes are produced on horizontal or hanging stalks 5 to 28 cm (2 and 12 in) long. Each slightly curved flower is 3.2 to 4.2 cm (1.3 to 1.7 in) long and about 7 mm (0.3 in) wide and has spreading corolla lobes that one-fourth to one-half as long as the flower. The fruits are round orange berries about 9 mm (0.4 in) long that contain many tiny seeds.