An annual or perennial herb, 30-70 cm tall; stems erect, rarely straggling (see Garabedian in SAM), 1 to several from the rootstock, 4-angled, the angles usually narrowly winged, branched above, the branches ascending to somewhat spreading. Leaves basal and cauline, 3-5 nerved, rather thin; the basal in a rosette but soon disappearing in the lower altitude plants, oblong-elliptic cuneate, the larger about 8 cm long and 3.5 cm broad above the middle; cauline ovate-lanceolate to ovate-elliptic or oblong-elliptic, 1.5-3 cm long, 0.5-1.7 cm broad. Inflorescence terminal on the main axis and on the upper lateral branches, flowers solitary or in 2-3-flowered monochasial cymes. Pedicels 1-8 cm long with 5 narrow longitudinal wings (decurrent keels). Calyx 2-3 cm long, divided almost to the base; tube about 3 mm long; lobes linear-lanceolate, long attenuate to a subulate apical portion, carinate, the keel decurrent on the tube and pedicels as a narrow wing. Corolla pink (rose?) about 3 cm long; tube slender, slightly longer than the lobes, narrowing above the ovary in a neck-like portion and slightly widened at the mouth; lobes ovate-lanceolate, about 1.5 cm long and 3-6 mm broad just below the middle, apex obtuse or acute. Stamens inserted below the rim of the tube, free filament about 4 mm long; anthers eventually strongly twisted. Ovary 1.3-2.2 cm long, acuminate into the 5 mm style, narrowed towards the base; stigma 2-1obed, lobes linear 2.5-4 mm long, stigmatic along the margins. Capsule 1.6 cm long closely enveloped by the thin persistent corolla-tube, pointed.
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