Herbs perennial, 30--50 cm tall, ± drying black. Roots stout, woody. Stems 1--3, glabrescent. Basal leaves numerous, persistent; petiole 3--4 cm; leaf blade oblong to lanceolate-oblong, 8--10 cm, glabrescent, pinnatisect; segments 10--15 pairs, oblong, margin double dentate. Stem leaves in whorls of 4, similar to basal leaves but with much dilated and connate petioles. Inflorescences racemose, to 20--30 cm, interrupted; bracts leaflike, petioles strongly connate, cupular, to 2 cm high. Pedicel ca. 1 mm. Calyx oblong, ca. 1.5 cm, glabrescent, ca. 1/2 cleft anteriorly; lobes 3--5, small. Corolla purple-red, 3.5--4 cm; tube 2.5--3 cm, glabrous externally; galea nearly falcate apically, crested; beak slightly S-shaped, 6--7 mm; lower lip ca. 1.3 X 1.2 cm, ciliate, middle lobe emarginate apically. Filaments pubescent throughout. Capsule enclosed by accrescent calyx, ellipsoid-ovoid, slightly compressed, ca. 2 cm. Fl. Jul--Aug, fr. Aug--Sep.
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