Herbs perennial, (4--)7--17(--22) cm tall, usually drying black. Roots thick, fleshy. Stems numerous, central stem erect, lateral branches erect to ascending, with lines of dense hairs. Leaves in whorls of 4. Basal leaves usually persistent; petiole to 2 cm. Stem leaf petiole short, to less than 5 mm; leaf blade ovate-oblong or oblong-lanceolate, 3--4(--7) cm X 5(--10) mm, villous, pinnatisect; segments 6--9 pairs, ± ovate, pinnatifid, dentate. Inflorescences spicate, 3--8(--12) cm, compact to lax; bracts leaflike, long ciliate. Calyx obliquely ovate, ca. 9 mm, membranous, deeply cleft anteriorly, densely hirsute or only villous along veins and apices; lobes 5, unequal, broadly ovate, distinctly lobulate and serrate. Corolla purple-red, 1.6--2 cm; tube ± bent at a right angle near base; galea slightly falcate, 4.5--6 mm, apex rounded; lower lip 5--7.5 X 7.5--10 mm, middle lobe ca. 1/2 as long as lateral lobes. Filaments glabrous. Capsule ca. 1/2 enclosed by accrescent calyx, 1.5--2.1 cm X 4.8--9 mm, apex acute to acuminate. Seeds ca. 3 mm. Fl. May--Jun, fr. Jul--Aug.
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