Herbs perennial. Leaves forming a rosette; petiole 2--7 cm, narrowly winged; leaf blade oblong to oblanceolate, 5--15 X 1.5--3 cm, base attenuate, margin irregularly denticulate or crenulate and ciliate, apex rounded to obtuse, with multicellular hairs. Scapes 30--60 cm, pilose or subglabrous; inflorescences compact spicate, usually efarinose, many flowered; bracts ligulate to lanceolate, 3--5 mm, ciliolate. Flowers reflexed, heterostylous. Calyx suburceolate, 4--5 mm, parted slightly below middle; lobes unequal, usually purplish, ovate. Corolla dark blue or rose-purple, tubular-infundibuliform, 1.2--1.5 cm; limb slightly spreading, 6--9 mm wide; lobes nearly quadrate or subrotund, 2--3 mm wide, emarginate. Pin flowers: stamens 2--3 mm above base of corolla tube; style ca. as long as tube. Thrum flowers with positions reciprocal. Capsule elliptic, slightly longer than calyx. Fl. Jun-Jul. 2n = 40@.