Herbs perennial, 18--40 cm tall. Stems erect, simple or weakly branched, glabrous. Branches leafy only at apex. Leaves opposite, upper 3 or 4 pairs compactly crowded. Lower leaves smaller; petiole very short, base auriculate, semi-clasping; leaf blade narrowly elliptic, 1.8--3 X 0.9--1.2 cm, base attenuate, apex acute. Medial and upper leaves subsessile, narrowly lanceolate, 35--70 X 4--9 mm, abaxially glabrous or pilose on midvein, densely transparent glandular punctate, adaxially pilose, base attenuate, apex acuminate; veins inconspicuous. Inflorescences terminal, capitate, 4-to many flowered; bracts ovate-lanceolate, longer than calyx, margin rust-colored pubescent. Pedicel 0.5--2.5 mm. Calyx lobes subulate, ca. 8 mm, glabrous, with scattered raised transparent glands. Corolla yellow; tube ca. 4 mm; lobes elliptic-obovate, ca. 8 X 4.5 mm, apex acute. Filaments connate basally into a ca. 3 mm high tube, free parts 2--5 mm; anthers linear, dorsifixed, opening by lateral slits, ca. 2 mm. Ovary glabrous; style to 1 cm. Capsule unknown. Fl. Apr-May.