Subshrubs 1-2 m tall, anisophyllous, drying blackish. Stems 4-angled, sulcate, brownish puberulent. Petiole 0.2-2.5 cm, brownish puberulent; leaf blade ovate to rarely obovate-elliptic, (2-)4.5-21 × (1-)2.5-9.5 cm, both surfaces densely covered with cystoliths, abaxially puberulent along veins, adaxially glabrous, secondary veins 4-12 on each side of midvein, base cuneate, margin subentire to crenulate, apex shortly acuminate. Inflorescences axillary, spikes, 1.5-3 cm; bracts oblong-obovate with a broad base, ca. 11 × 4-5 mm, concave, rigid, abaxially pubescent and with marginal cilia of rigid brown trichomes, apex acute and becoming reflexed; bracteoles linear, 10-12 × ca. 1 mm, apically brownish pubescent, apex often reflexed. Flowers imbricate on rachis. Calyx 1.2-1.5 cm, subequally 5-lobed; lobes lanceolate, ca. 10 × 1 mm, pubescent with rigid trichomes, apex acuminate. Corolla purple, ca. 4 cm, slightly curved, outside glabrous, inside glabrous except for trichomes retaining style; tube basally cylindric and narrow for ca. 1 cm then gradually widened to ca. 2 cm at mouth; lobes ovate, ca. 5 mm, apex emarginate. Stamens 4, included; shorter filament pair ca. 3 mm, glabrous; longer filament pair ca. 7 mm, pilose; anther thecae oblong, 3-3.5 mm. Ovary hirsute at tip; style ca. 2.7 cm, pilose; stigma obconical. Capsule not seen. Fl. Dec.
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