Herbs or shrublets, 8-25 cm tall, erect. Stems 4-sided, sparsely appressed strigose. Petiole very short, strigose; leaf blade ovate, 1.7-2.5 × 0.9-1.3 cm, stiffly papery, both surfaces strigose, secondary veins 2 on each side of midvein, tertiary veins inconspicuous, base rounded to subcordate, margin entire, apex acute. Inflorescences terminal, capitate, 2-or 3-flowered, with 2-4 bracteal leaves at base; bracts sessile, ovate, both surfaces glabrous or sparsely strigose only on midvein. Hypanthium often reddish, ca. 1.5 cm, glabrous. Calyx lobes 4, ovate, ca. 1.5 cm, setiform tuberculate among lobes, margin ciliate. Petals 4, purple to pale purple, obovate, ca. 1.5 cm, margin ciliate. Stamens 8, inclined to one side; filaments of equal lengths; anthers narrowly lanceolate, long beaked; connective abaxially with a short basal spur, adaxially slightly inflated tuberculate. Ovary ovoid, 4-celled, apex with 16-20 setae. Capsule purplish red, ovoid, ca. 7 × 7 mm, glabrous. Fl. and fr. Jun-Sep.
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