More or less erect annual herb 10–60 cm. tall, the stems densely covered with spreading bristly hairs and shorter pubescence as well.. Leaves narrowly oblong-elliptic or oblong-lanceolate to slightly oblanceolate, 2.5–15 cm. long, 1.2–2.5 cm. wide, obtuse or subacute at the apex, rounded truncate or subcordate at the base, sometimes amplexicaul, densely covered with tubercle-based hairs above arising from rings of cystoliths and on the venation beneath but without additional pubescence.. Flowers in few-flowered cymes and solitary flowers in axils of uppermost 3 leaves (foliaceous bracts); pedicels 1.3–2.5(–4) cm. long, with long and short pubescence.. Calyx-lobes cordate to hastate at the base, 0.9–1.3 cm. long, 0.5–1.3 cm. wide, acuminate, setose and pubescent, with bristly margins and midrib.. Corolla blue or ?pink or red; tube cylindrical, 5–5.5 mm. long; limb funnel-shaped, 4 mm. long including the broad often slightly unequal lobes 2–2.5 mm. long, 2.5–3 mm. wide.. Stamens quite separate, the anthers not cohering in a cone, 2.8–4 mm. long including 1.2 mm. long connective-appendages which are not twisted; connective-hairs reaching almost to the top of the appendages or only slightly beneath.. Style 3.5–4.5 mm. long.. Nutlets 4, buff with darker grey markings, compressed-ovoid, 5 mm. long, 3.5 mm. wide, 2.8 mm. thick, the outer surface smooth, the inner with raised rugae which are closer and more elevated at apex of nut.. Figs. 27/3, p. 96; 28/3, p. 98.
Home