Plants perennial; taproot stout, fleshy. Stems several, erect, simple proximal to inflorescence, 50-160 cm, glabrous to sparsely retrorse-puberulent proximally, more densely so and glandular distally. Leaves withered towards base at anthesis, in 10-20 pairs, sessile, gradually reduced distally; blade 3-veined, lanceolate to ovate, rounded into base, 4-12 cm × 20-50 mm, apex acute, not acuminate, glabrous to scabrous-puberulent adaxially, scabrous-puberulent abaxially. Inflorescences terminal, cymose, compound, many-flowered, bracteate, pedunculate, 15-25(-30) × 5-10 cm; bracts lanceolate, 3-30 mm; peduncle ascending. Pedicels 1-4 times longer than calyx, stipitate-glandular, puberulent. Flowers: calyx prominently 10-veined, tubular in flower, 18-25 × 3-4 mm, swelling in middle to 6-9 mm in fruit, umbilicate, constricted near base around carpophore, glandular-pubescent, especially on veins, veins green, lobes 2-4 mm, midrib lanceolate, margins often red tinged, broad, membranous; corolla scarlet, clawed, claw equaling calyx, limb oblong to elliptic, unlobed, rarely emarginate or shallowly 2-lobed, 10-20 × 5-6 mm, apex rounded, appendages 2, tubular, 2-4 mm; stamens exserted; styles 3(-5), exserted. Capsules ovoid-ellipsoid, narrowed at both ends, equaling calyx, opening by 6 (or 8 or 10) ascending teeth; carpophore 3-5 mm. Seeds dark reddish brown, reniform, 1.5-2 mm, with smooth and glossy, flat or concave sides, margins angled, shallowly rugose. 2n = 48.
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Taprooted perennial, 5–16 dm, glabrous to glandular-puberulent; cauline lvs 10–20 pairs, lanceolate to broadly ovate, 4–12 × 1.5–7 cm; infl narrow, compound, 1.5–3 dm, leafy-bracteate; cal tubular, 1.8–2.5 cm, glandular; pet crimson, the auricles prominent, the tubular appendages 2–4 mm, the narrowly oblong or elliptic, entire or irregularly denticulate blade 12–20 × 3–5 mm; carpophore 3–5 mm; styles 3; capsule dehiscent by 6 teeth; 2n=48. Prairies and open woods; O. to e. Mo., s. to Ala. and Ga. July.
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