Herbs perennial, to 25 cm tall, ± drying black. Roots ± fleshy. Stems cespitose; outer stems slender, long whitish pubescent. Leaves in whorls of 4. Basal leaf petiole long, to 3.5 cm; leaf blade to 3 cm X 9 mm, pinnatisect; segments to 9 pairs, widely spaced, linear-lanceolate, pinnatifid, incised-dentate. Stem leaves in 1 or 2 whorls, similar to basal leaves but shorter petiolate, glabrous except adaxially pubescent along midvein. Inflorescences to 7 cm, interrupted basally; bracts leaflike basally, linear-lanceolate apically, shorter than flowers, margin double dentate. Calyx ca. 8 mm, 1/2 cleft anteriorly; lobes 4 or 5, unequal, serrate, densely long whitish pubescent along veins. Corolla yellow, 1.6--2.6 cm; tube decurved through anterior slit of calyx, ca. 1.4 cm; galea 1.1--1.2 cm, narrow, less rounded at apex, obscurely crested; lower lip ca. 1 cm, middle lobe fully projecting and stiped. Anthers apiculate. Fl. Aug, fr. Sep.