Herbs perennial, 4--10 cm, densely long pubescent. Roots fibrous. Stems 1 to several, central stem erect, outer stems usually ascending. Basal leaf petiole long, to 1 cm, sparsely pubescent; leaf blade elliptic to oblong, 1--2 cm X 5--8 mm, pinnatisect; segments 5--7 pairs, oblong, pinnatifid, dentate. Stem leaves in whorls of 3 or 4, widely spaced; leaf blade similar to basal leaves but shorter petiolate. Inflorescences compact, globose; proximal bracts strongly inflated, distal ones palmately lobed. Calyx ca. 6 mm, membranous; lobes 5, unequal, posterior one triangular-lanceolate and entire, lateral lobes leaflike and serrate. Corolla red, with dark red galea; tube erect, ca. 7.5 mm, glabrous; galea bent at a right angle apically, with an auriculate marginal protuberance on one side; beak ± bent downward, ca. 8 mm, slender; lower lip long ciliate, middle lobe hoodlike apically, ca. less than 2 X as long as lateral lobes. Anterior filaments sparsely pubescent. Fl. Jul--Aug, fr. Sep.
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