Plants candelabra-form, 5–40(–50) cm. Basal leaves persisting; petiole present or absent; blade linear-lanceolate to linear, margins usually deeply to moderately lobed, sinuses extending 1/4+ to midvein, rarely entire. Cauline leaves: petiole absent; blade ovate-lanceolate to lanceolate, to 17 cm, margins usually dentate or entire, rarely deeply lobed. Bracts green, ovate to lanceolate, 2.7–6.6 × 0.9–2.1 mm, width 1/5–1/3 length, not concealing capsule, margins 3-lobed or entire. Flowers: sepals 1–7 mm; petals yellow to orange proximally, yellow distally, 4–12 mm, apex acute; stamens 20+, 3–6.5 mm, filaments monomorphic, filiform, unlobed; styles 3–6.5 mm. Capsules narrowly cylindric, 7–32 × 1–3 mm, axillary curved to 90° at maturity, often prominently longitudinally ribbed. Seeds 10–20, in 1 row distal to mid fruit, tan, dark-mottled or not, triangular prisms, surface ±smooth under 10× magnification; recurved flap over hilum absent; seed coat cell outer periclinal wall flat. 2n = 18.
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