Annual ± stiffly erect herb, up to 35 cm. tall.. Stem branched mainly in the upper part, strongly ribbed, hirsute with mixed hairs of very variable lengths.. Leaves sessile, narrowly ovate to ovate above, elliptic to oblanceolate or narrowly ovate towards the base, up to 10–25 mm. long, 5–10 mm. wide, acute or subacute, with truncate or at least in upper leaves, cordate base, hirsute; margin ± undulate-crenate; midvein and lateral veins prominent beneath.. Inflorescence lax, leafy, with marked overtopping of the terminal flower giving a dichotomous appearance; pedicels short, elongating up to 10 mm. in fruit.. Hypanthium broadly obconical, with 5 distinct nerves and up to 5 additional ± weak nerves in between them, shortly and densely pubescent but with long hairs on the nerves.. Calyx-lobes narrowly triangular, 4–8 mm. long, acute, with long hairs at margins and on midvein outside, otherwise shortly and densely pubescent on both sides; calyx-appendages ovate, 1.5–2.5 mm. long, reflexed, ± obtuse.. Corolla blue or mauve with whitish base, cylindrical, 6–8 mm. long, with erect apiculate lobes 1–1.6 mm. long; midveins of petals distinct with ± long hairs, corolla otherwise densely puberulous outside, glabrous inside.. Stamens with ovate shortly ciliate filament-bases; anthers 1.3–2 mm. long.. Ovary 3-locular; style much shorter than the corolla-tube, 3-lobed, hairy at the base.. Capsule 3-locular, dehiscing by basal valves.. Seeds numerous, elliptic-oblong in outline, compressed, ± 0.6 mm. long, almost smooth, yellowish brown.
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