Herbs, perennial, 20--30(--60) cm tall. Rhizomes branched, ca. 2--3 cm in diam., with a brown scale at each node; scales ovate, clasping. Stems slender, simple or branched, without bud scales, sparsely minutely hispid toward apex. Leaf blade broadly ovate to obovate, (2--)4--6(--10) X (0.8--)2--3(--5.3) cm, both surfaces glabrous or glabrescent, base attenuate to abruptly constricted and then becoming attenuate, apex shortly acuminate to occasionally obtuse. Inflorescences terminal or axillary, (1--)15--30-flowered or more with each flower subtended by a lanceolate to oblong bract; bractlets ovate, apex acute and apiculate. Calyx (12--)13--15(--18) X 1.5--2 mm, sparsely strigose along ribs, lobes ca. 2 mm. Corolla 2.5--2.8 cm, tube red-purple; lobes blue, obdeltate, ca. 8 X 8 mm, apex emarginate and narrowLY triangular mucronate. Stamens slightly exserted; anthers blue, ca. 2 mm. Ovary ellipsoid; heterostylous; short-styled form with style included; long-styled form with style extending beyond anthers. Capsules pale yellowish brown, ellipsoid-ovoid, ca. 6 mm. Seeds red-brown. Fl. Jul-Sep, fr. Aug-Oct. 2n = 14.
Rocky places, often in foot-hills. Beijing Shi, Henan, Jiangsu, Shanxi, Zhejiang.
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