Streptocarpus compressus is described as a medium sized  unifoliate or rosulate species (160 x 150 mm) with many flowered inflorescences by Hilliard and Burtt (1971). They mention that two distinct forms grew from the seed they originally received, one rosulate and one unifoliate with flowers that also differed in degree of lateral compression. The one rosulate form appears to have laterally compressed almost keyhole shaped, mauve flowers with a dark violet blotch (See Plate 7(b) in H&B (1971)).

The second unifoliate form has more open tube shaped flowers but also with lateral compression but not keyhole shaped (see picture). In nature the leaves would abscise during winter but under glasshouse conditions the leaf can grow very large as can be seen here. The species is reported to grow on the high isolated and forested peaks of south western and southern Tanzania near the town of Songea and further north on Mount Image (see S. inflatus).  More fieldwork is required to define what rather appears to be two species than one.