Plants perennial, with overlapping bud scales at base. Leaves usually developing later than flowers; petiole initially nearly as long as leaf blade, 2--3 X as long as leaf blade at fruiting; leaf blade ovate to ovate-lanceolate, ca. 6 X 3 cm at anthesis, enlarging to ca. 10 X 4 cm at fruiting, abaxially sparsely pilose along midvein and lateral veins, adaxially with long white multicellular hairs, base cuneate to rounded or cordulate, margin entire, occasionally remotely denticulate, apex obtuse. Scapes to 15 cm, elongating to 75 cm in fruit, initially densely pilose. Calyx 9--10 mm, parted nearly to base; lobes narrowly lanceolate to sublinear, pubescent outside, apex acute. Corolla deep violet, 4--5.6 cm; tube ca. 3 X as long as calyx; limb 4--6 cm wide; lobes oblong to broadly obovate or elliptic, 2-lobate, margin entire to dentate. Stamens inserted at middle of corolla tube; filaments 6--10 mm, glabrous; anthers 5--6 mm. Ovary and style glabrous. Capsule 1.8--2 cm. Fl. Jun-Jul.