Herbs perennial, lacking basal bud scales at anthesis. Leaves forming a rosette; petiole initially indistinct, 1/4--1/2 as long as leaf blade; leaf blade oblong-spatulate to oblong-elliptic, 2--10 X 1--3 cm, enlarging to 25 X 6 cm at fruiting, tapering to base, ciliolate, adaxially initially short septate pubescent, becoming glabrous or pubescent near margin, glandular, septate tawny pubescent along veins, margin denticulate, apex rounded. Scapes (6--)10--30 cm, elongating to 45 cm in fruit, ± farinose toward apex; umbel capitate, many flowered; bracts lanceolate, 5--10 mm, base slightly gibbous, apex acute to obtuse. Pedicel usually indistinct, rarely to 2 mm. Flowers heterostylous. Calyx campanulate, 4--9 mm, parted to below middle; lobes purplish, lanceolate, apex subobtuse. Corolla blue-violet, with an orange eye; tube 1--1.2 cm; limb 1--1.2 cm wide; lobes obovate, 2-lobed. Pin flowers: stamens ca. 3 mm above base of corolla tube; style 5--6 mm. Thrum flowers with positions reciprocal. Capsule globose, slightly shorter than calyx. Fl. May-Jun. 2n = 22, 22 + 5f.
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