Herbs perennial, 25--50(--100) cm, glabrescent, ± drying black. Lateral roots 5--15, fleshy. Stems single or 2--4, erect, unbranched apically, with lines of hairs. Basal leaves withering early. Stem leaves in whorls of 3 or 4; petiole 1.3--3 cm; leaf blade ovate-oblong to lanceolate-oblong or ovate, to 12 X 3(--4) cm, adaxially sparsely pubescent and densely ciliolate along midvein, pinnatifid to pinnatipartite; segments 6--10 pairs, triangular-ovate to lanceolate-oblong, margin double dentate. Inflorescences spicate, 4--13 cm; bracts sessile, proximal ones leaflike, longer than flowers. Calyx 6--9 mm, villous, slightly cleft anteriorly; lobes 5, unequal. Corolla pale yellow, with purple galea and beak, 1.8--2.1 cm; tube erect, 8--10 mm; galea bent at a right angle apically; beak ca. 4 mm, slender; lower lip ca. as long as galea, glabrous. Filaments glabrous. Capsule obliquely oblong, ca. 1.3 cm. Fl. May--Aug, fr. Jul--Aug.