Plants perennial. Leaf rosette 3--9 cm tall, with membranous overlapping bud scales at base. Petiole nearly as long as leaf blade, nearly completely concealed by basal scales; leaf blade oblanceolate, 15--50 X 3--10 mm, tapering to base, glabrous, margin entire or occasionally remotely denticulate, apex obtuse. Scapes developing at same time as leaves, 3--9 cm, elongating to 20 cm in fruit, reddish pubescent. Calyx 4--6 mm, pubescent outside, parted nearly to base; lobes lanceolate, apex acute to obtuse. Corolla dark purple, campanulate, 1.5--2.5 cm, glabrous or puberulous outside; tube slightly longer than calyx, gradually expanding upward from base; limb 1.5--2 cm wide, usually 5-lobed; lobes elliptic to oblong-elliptic, apex incised-dentate. Stamens inserted ca. 5.5 mm above base of corolla tube; filaments 1--1.5 mm, glabrous; anthers oblong, ca. 3 mm. Ovary and style glabrous. Capsule unknown.