Annual, 1–4 dm, the stem softly pubescent with somewhat deflexed hairs; stipules tapering to an elongate linear tip; lfls obovate, heads closely sessile, subglobose; fls 12–15 mm; cal densely hirsute with ascending hairs, the lobes setaceous, 4–6 mm, exceeding the tube; cor purple, the standard straight, very narrow, acute, much exceeding the wings; 2n=10. Native of s. Europe, intr. as a weed in Va. Summer.