An erect, pubescent, slightly hispid herb. Stem rather stout, 1–2 ft. high, with numerous short, slender branches from about the middle. Leaves narrowed into a short petiole, opposite, except in the inflorescence, spreading, rather thick, lanceolate, oblong-lanceolate or ovate-lanceolate, usually 1–1 1/2 (occasionally 2) in. long, scarcely acute, coarsely and distantly toothed, teeth thickened at the tips, 3-nerved nearly to the tip. Flowers usually very numerous, crowded, shortly pedicellate. Bracts leaf-like, usually much longer than the flowers. Bracteoles almost filiform, setulose, somewhat shorter than the calyx or equalling it. Calyx setulose, outer ribs and margin broadly campanulate, 10-ribbed, net-veined; lobes triangular, acuminate, longer than the tube. Corolla little longer than the calyx. Stamens unequal; filaments of the longer ones bearded; anther-cells slightly unequal, apiculate.
