Listed under the Mulla Mullas, the Long Tails are an erect, sometimes sprawling herb that can grow up to 2 metres high. Characterised by its flower spikes, that start off short and extend into a long narrow cylinder shape. Usually pale green-yellow in colour, there is also a red-brown form known locally as the Red Pussytail.

The plant is quite common on sand dunes, stony and red sandy soils.

The Mulla Mullas are a group of flowering plants also sometimes called Pussytails, due to their distinctive shaped flower heads.