Monopsis lutea is a straggling perennial growing sprawling or creeping stems that become up to 60 cm long.

M. lutea is one of only 18 Monopsis species, commonly known as the yellow lobelia. This is bewildering, but there is a relationship, Monopsis also being a genus of the Lobeliaceae family, previously part of Campanulaceae.

M. flava of the Northern Cape also bears yellow flowers, as some other South African Monopsis species also do.

The bright yellow flowers of M. lutea grow in upper stem spikes. They are two-lipped and hairy with funnel-shaped tubes. The specific name, lutea, is a Latin word meaning yellow, referring to the flower colour.

The species distribution lies in the southwestern part of the Western Cape, from Clanwilliam to the Cape Peninsula and eastwards to Riversdale.

The habitat is moist flats and lower slopes. The species is not considered to be threatened in its habitat early in the twenty first century (Manning, 2009; Bean and Johns, 2005; Riley, 1963; iNaturalist; http://redlist.sanbi.org).