Herbs, monocarpic, 30-92 cm tall in flower. Stem stiffly erect, 10-15 mm in diam. at base, spreading bristly, pale overall. Basal leaves in a spreading rosette; petiole to 6.5 cm; blade pale green abaxially, mid-green adaxially, elliptic-oblanceolate to oblanceolate, 8-20 × 1.4-3.6 cm, both surfaces with spreading, pale, stiff, bristlelike hairs to 6 mm, base attenuate into petiole, margin undulate, entire to shallowly and unevenly lobed, apex acute to subacute. Lower cauline leaves similar to basal leaves, decreasing in size upward on stem and merging with lower bracts, but most of inflorescence ebracteate. Inflorescence a simple raceme with up to 32 flowers, sometimes with several solitary, scapose, depauperate flowers from axils of basal leaves. Pedicel 0.8-7.2 cm, with stiff bristlelike hairs. Flowers lateral-facing to half-nodding, 3.8-7 cm in diam., fragrant. Sepals oblong to oblong-ovate, adaxially with spreading pale bristles. Petals 5 or 6, blue, purple, blue-purple, or lavender, occasionally wine-purple or whitish, obovate to oblong, 1.8-3.6 × 1.5-3 cm, glabrous. Filaments of same color as petals, often darker; anthers white to orange-yellow or yellowish gray, 1-1.5 mm. Ovary ovoid, spiny; styles narrowly conical, 2-4 mm, glabrous; stigmas pale green or cream, 2-3 mm, included within boss of stamens. Capsule ovoid to ovoid-elliptic, 1.7-2 × 0.8-1 cm, with rather sparse, spreading, pale-colored bristles, 5-7-valvate. Fl. Jun-Sep.
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