Herbs annual, to 20 cm, some only 5--8 cm, finely pubescent, drying black. Roots fascicled, fibrous. Stems single, unbranched, with 2 lines of hairs. Leaves opposite, both basal and on stem; petiole slender, proximal ones 2--4.5 cm and wider, distal ones to 1--1.7 cm; leaf blade orbicular or ovate to oblong, 1.4--2.2 X 0.8--1.5 cm, abaxially glabrous, adaxially glabrescent, pinnatifid to pinnatipartite; segments 3--7 pairs, broadly ovate to lanceolate-ovate, pinnatifid or incised-double dentate. Inflorescences subcapitate; proximal bracts leaflike, distal ones triangular-ovate. Pedicel 4--8 mm. Calyx usually tinged with purplish red, 5.5--7 mm, sparsely pubescent, membranous; lobes 5, unequal, lateral lobes ± entire or 1--3-toothed. Corolla red, with dark purplish red galea; tube ca. 8.5 mm; galea bent at a right angle apically; beak horizontal, ± straight, 5.5--6.5 mm, slender; lower lip ca. 1 X 1--1.4 cm, long ciliate or glabrous, ± erose, middle lobe hoodlike. Filaments glabrous throughout.