Herbs annual, to 25 cm tall, ± drying black. Roots conical, woody. Stems 1--7, outer stems ± ascending, white villous. Basal leaves ± persistent; petiole 1--1.5 cm, slender, white villous; leaf blade oblong to lanceolate, to 1 cm X 2.5--4 mm, pinnatifid; segments 4--6 pairs. Stem leaves in whorls of 4, shorter petiolate; leaf blade slightly larger than basal leaves, abaxially white villous along veins, adaxially appressed white crispate-pilose; segments ca. 6 pairs. Inflorescences spicate, 3--6 cm, interrupted basally; proximal bracts leaflike, densely villous. Calyx 4--6 mm, membranous, slightly cleft anteriorly; lobes 5, triangular, short, ± unequal. Corolla red-purple, ca. 1.5 cm; tube decurved basally, expanded apically; galea 5.5--6.5 mm, apex rounded, with 1 marginal filiform tooth on each side; lower lip ca. 6 X 7--9 mm, middle lobe broadly ovate, slightly smaller than lateral pair. Filaments glabrous. Fl. Jul--Aug, fr. Sep--Oct.
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