Herbs perennial, 5--7 cm tall, marcescent stems and leaves of preceding year persistent at base, drying black. Stems 3--5, unbranched, stout, sparsely pubescent, with densely rust colored villous lines. Leaves mostly basal; petiole 2--3 cm, margin densely villous; leaf blade ovate-oblong or long ovate, 1--1.5 cm X 5--6 mm, sparsely rust colored pubescent on both surfaces, pinnatisect; segments 5 or 6 pairs, broadly ovate, minutely crenulate. Inflorescences subcapitate, 3--5-flowered; bracts ca. as long as calyx. Pedicel 2--3 mm, pubescent. Calyx ca. 7 mm, slightly cleft anteriorly, long pubescent; lobes 5, unequal. Corolla purple-red, 1.2--1.5 cm; tube erect, slightly exceeding calyx; galea ± falcate apically; beak bent slightly downward, straight, ca. 5 mm; lower lip ca. 1 cm, long ciliate. 2 filaments sparsely pubescent, 2 glabrous. Fl. Jun--Aug, fr. Aug--Sep.