diff --git a/.github/workflows/tests.yml b/.github/workflows/tests.yml
index 8852f09..1ea575d 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/tests.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/tests.yml
@@ -27,20 +27,18 @@ jobs:
     - name: Test minimums
       run: pytest
 
-    - name: Install SciPy
-      # --only-binary disables compiling the package from source if a binary wheel is not available, such as PyPy
-      run: pip install --only-binary ":all:" scipy || true
-
-    - name: Install python-graphblas
-      if: ${{ !contains(matrix.python-version, 'pypy') && matrix.python-version != '3.7' }}  # no wheels for PyPy or old Python
-      run: |
-        pip install suitesparse-graphblas==7.4.4.1a1
-        pip install python-graphblas
-
-    - name: Install pydata sparse
-      if: ${{ !contains(matrix.python-version, 'pypy') && matrix.python-version != '3.7' }}  # no wheels for PyPy or old Python
+    - name: Install optional dependencies
+      # --only-binary disables compiling the package from source if a binary wheel is not available, such as old Python or PyPy
       run: |
-        pip install sparse
+        echo ""
+        echo "=== Install SciPy ============================="
+        pip install --only-binary ":all:" scipy || true
+        echo ""
+        echo "=== Install python-graphblas =================="
+        pip install --only-binary ":all:" python-graphblas || true
+        echo ""
+        echo "=== Install PyData/Sparse ====================="
+        pip install --only-binary ":all:" sparse || true
 
     - name: Test without Jupyter
       run: pytest
diff --git a/matspy/adapters/__init__.py b/matspy/adapters/__init__.py
index a33d0ee..5dac00a 100644
--- a/matspy/adapters/__init__.py
+++ b/matspy/adapters/__init__.py
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
 import numpy as np
 
 
-def describe(shape: tuple = None, nnz: int = None, nz_type=None, notes: str = None) -> str:
+def describe(shape: tuple = None, nnz: int = None, nz_type=None, layout: str = None, notes: str = None) -> str:
     """
     Create a simple description string from potentially interesting pieces of metadata.
     """
@@ -27,6 +27,9 @@ def describe(shape: tuple = None, nnz: int = None, nz_type=None, notes: str = No
     elif nz_type is not None:
         parts.append(f"'{str(nz_type)}' elements")
 
+    if layout is not None:
+        parts.append(str(layout))
+
     if notes:
         parts.append(notes)
 
diff --git a/matspy/adapters/graphblas_impl.py b/matspy/adapters/graphblas_impl.py
index 01ea9e1..be78387 100644
--- a/matspy/adapters/graphblas_impl.py
+++ b/matspy/adapters/graphblas_impl.py
@@ -56,12 +56,9 @@ def get_format(self, is_transposed=False):
     def describe(self) -> str:
         parts = [f"gb.{type(self.mat).__name__}", f"'{self.mat.dtype}'"]
 
-        fmt = self.get_format()
-        if fmt:
-            parts.append(fmt)
-
         return describe(shape=self.mat.shape,
                         nnz=self.mat.nvals,
+                        layout=self.get_format(),
                         notes=", ".join(parts))
 
     def get_spy(self, spy_shape: tuple) -> np.array:
diff --git a/matspy/adapters/numpy_impl.py b/matspy/adapters/numpy_impl.py
index 97af8fb..e8fb75d 100644
--- a/matspy/adapters/numpy_impl.py
+++ b/matspy/adapters/numpy_impl.py
@@ -20,10 +20,7 @@ def get_shape(self) -> tuple:
         return self.arr.shape
 
     def describe(self) -> str:
-        format_name = "array"
-
-        return describe(shape=self.arr.shape, nz_type=self.arr.dtype,
-                        notes=f"{format_name}")
+        return describe(shape=self.arr.shape, nz_type=self.arr.dtype, layout="array")
 
     def get_spy(self, spy_shape: tuple) -> np.array:
         precision = self.get_option("precision", None)
diff --git a/matspy/adapters/scipy_impl.py b/matspy/adapters/scipy_impl.py
index b9c1a4b..c058f34 100644
--- a/matspy/adapters/scipy_impl.py
+++ b/matspy/adapters/scipy_impl.py
@@ -31,10 +31,8 @@ def get_shape(self) -> tuple:
         return self.mat.shape
 
     def describe(self) -> str:
-        format_name = self.mat.getformat()
-
         return describe(shape=self.mat.shape, nnz=self.mat.nnz, nz_type=self.mat.dtype,
-                        notes=f"{format_name}")
+                        layout=self.mat.getformat())
 
     def get_spy(self, spy_shape: tuple) -> np.array:
         # construct a triple product that will scale the matrix
diff --git a/matspy/adapters/sparse_impl.py b/matspy/adapters/sparse_impl.py
index 2682c57..079bd65 100644
--- a/matspy/adapters/sparse_impl.py
+++ b/matspy/adapters/sparse_impl.py
@@ -31,13 +31,14 @@ def get_shape(self) -> tuple:
         return self.mat.shape
 
     def describe(self) -> str:
-        parts = [
-            self.mat.format,
-        ]
+        try:
+            fmt = self.mat.format
+        except AttributeError:
+            fmt = self.mat.__class__.__name__
 
         return describe(shape=self.mat.shape,
                         nnz=self.mat.nnz, nz_type=self.mat.dtype,
-                        notes=", ".join(parts))
+                        layout=fmt)
 
     def get_spy(self, spy_shape: tuple) -> np.array:
         if isinstance(self.mat, sparse.DOK):