Stem 55--110(--150) cm tall, glabrous, branched distally. Leaf blade 12--20 cm wide, base cordate; primary lobes separate for at least 90% of blade radius; central lobe rhombic or rhombic-obovate, 3-cleft, distally few lobulate or dentate, apex acute; ultimate lobules lanceolate; proximal leaves usually withered. Compound raceme 40--50 cm, many flowered, glabrous; proximal bracts leaflike, distal ones linear. Pedicels 1.5--3 cm; bracteoles borne near middle of pedicel, subulate, 2.5--3.5 mm. Sepals blue-purple, abaxially puberulent; spur subulate, 1.5--2 cm, straight, base 3--4 mm in diam.; other sepals 1--1.3 cm. Petals 2-lobed, glabrous. Staminode limb oblong, 2-cleft, yellow barbate. Filaments glabrous. Carpels 3, glabrous. Fl. Jul--Aug.