Herbs perennial, 12--20 cm tall, drying ± black. Stems single, sometimes to 6, central stem often ± ascending, outer stems usually procumbent at base, often branched basally, glabrous or sometimes with lines of hairs. Leaves mostly basal; petiole 2--4 cm, glabrescent; leaf blade elliptic-oblong to lanceolate-oblong, 6--8 X 1.7--2 cm, abaxially sparsely whitish villous along midvein, adaxially glabrous, pinnatisect; segments 7--11 pairs, ovate to ovate-lanceolate, pinnatifid, spinescent-dentate. Stem leaves few, often only 1 or 2, similar to basal leaves but smaller; segments 5 pairs. Inflorescences subcapitate, few flowered; bracts leaflike. Pedicel ca. 4 mm. Calyx 8--10 mm, 2/3 cleft anteriorly, sparsely pubescent; lobes 2 or 5, unequal or when 2, equal, small. Corolla deep red, purple, or purplish red, 1.8--2.3 cm; tube erect, ca. 1.4 cm, glabrous externally; galea falcate apically, glandular pubescent abaxially, with 1 distinct reflexed marginal tooth on one side; beak 5--6 mm; lower lip ca. 1.2 X 1.5--1.8 cm. 2 filaments pubescent, 2 glabrous. Capsule long ovoid. Fl. Jun, fr. Aug.
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