Shrubs erect, 1-2 m tall, much branched. Branches densely gray minutely tomentose, with simple and stellate hairs when young, later subglabrous, with longitudinally exfoliating bark. Petiole 1.5-2 cm; leaf blade ovate, 4-5 × 2.5-3 cm, papery, adaxially bullate, tomentose, abaxially densely tomentose, base truncate, margin crenulate, apex subacute. Cymes few flowered, pedunculate, in fascicled or capitate inflorescences on short branches; bracteoles minutely tomentose. Calyx ca. 7 mm, stellate tomentose outside; teeth narrowly triangular to triangular-subulate, apex short acuminate. Corolla dark gray-red to dark red, puberulent; tube scaly inside, ca. 1.6 cm, attenuate toward base; upper lip elliptic, apex entire to emarginate; lobes of lower lip subequal, middle lobe emarginate. Ovary slightly winged. Fl. Sep.