Shrubs, scandent. Young branches brown stellate tomentose, glabrescent. Petiole ca. 5 mm, glabrous or sparsely hairy; leaf blade ovate-orbicular to ovate-lanceolate, 2-6 X 1-2.5 cm, glabrous or abaxially sparsely hairy on veins, black when dry, base rounded to broadly cuneate, margin serrulate, apex acute. Racemes terminal, rarely lateral, to 20 cm or longer, brown stellate hairy when young, glabrescent. Flowers paired at nodes. Bracteoles caducous. Calyx campanulate, 5-7 mm, outside glabrous, inside pilose; lobes 5, semiorbicular-triangular. Corolla scarlet, ca. 2.5 cm, outside pubescent, inside densely pilose; lower lip 3-lobed, lateral 2 lobes obliquely ovate, margin ciliate, part of upper margin adnate to upper lip, middle lobe triangular ovate and margin not ciliate; upper lip longer than lower lip, margin brown pilose, apex slightly concave and retuse. Stamens and style slightly shorter than upper lip. Ovary sparsely pilose. Capsule ovoid, glabrous. Fl. Aug-Nov.