Herbs perennial. Leaves numerous, forming a dense rosette; petiole to nearly as long as leaf blade; leaf blade oblong-obovate to oblong-lanceolate, 1--7 X 0.3--4 cm, farinose or efarinose, base attenuate, margin remotely denticulate to nearly entire, apex subrounded to obtuse. Scapes 3--15(--30) cm, usually farinose toward apex; umbels usually many flowered; bracts narrowly lanceolate to acuminate-subulate, 3--8 mm, base dilated, gibbous. Pedicels unequal, 3--15 mm, elongating to 2.5 cm in fruit. Flowers heterostylous. Calyx campanulate, 4--6 mm, usually farinose inside, parted to 1/3--1/2, 5-ribbed; lobes ovate-oblong to triangular, short ciliate. Corolla lilac to purple; tube ca. as long as to slightly longer than calyx; limb 0.8--1 cm wide; lobes cuneate-obovate, deeply emarginate. Pin flowers: stamens at middle of corolla tube; style ca. 3 mm. Thrum flowers: stamens in upper 1/2 of corolla tube; style ca. 1.2 mm. Capsule cylindric, slightly longer than calyx. 2n = 18, 36, 72.