Herbs perennial, 30--60 cm tall. Stems few or solitary, erect, with sparse to dense, strict erect branches, pubescent, very rarely glabrous. Basal leaves (ob)lanceolate, 6--10 × 1--2 cm, base attenuate into short petiole, apex acute; cauline leaves lanceolate or narrowly oblanceolate. Inflorescence an irregular thyrsoid with long stalked, usually 3-flowered cymules; flowers slightly nutant. Pedicel usually shorter than calyx, rarely longer, densely pubescent, sometimes with a few glandular hairs. Calyx narrowly campanulate to ovoid, narrowed at base, 1--1.2 cm × 3--3.5 mm, soon becoming broader as capsule swells; veins slightly raised, pubescent. Androgynophore 1.5--2 mm, pubescent. Petals dark red, rarely white; claws usually conspicuously exserted beyond calyx (but cleistogamous forms occur), oblanceolate, 8--10 mm, hairy at base; auricles prominent, orbicular; limb 3--4 mm, deeply bifid to middle, sometimes with short lateral lobes. Stamens included or slightly exserted. Styles 5, included. Capsule ellipsoid, ca. 1 cm. Seeds gray, globose-reniform, ca. 1.2 mm, minutely tuberculate.
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