Annual herb to short-lived perennial 15–100(–200) cm tall, usually viscid, stem 3–7.5 mm diameter at base, generally with 4–5 subequal ascending and prostrate branches from near the base; branches invested densely with predominantly simple, glandular hairs, sometimes mixed with simple crinkled hairs and with sporadic stellate hairs, less usually almost entirely stellate-hairy. Leaf-blade linear-lanceolate, lanceolate, or linear-oblong, rarely ovate or elliptic, 9–25(–48)≈(2.2–)3–14(–22) mm, apex acute, margin serrate, base obtuse, with (1–)2–9 teeth on each side, nerves 2–4 on each side of the midrib, upper surface with sessile glandular hairs scattered with stellate hairs, lower surface densely covered with simple glandular hairs and stellate hairs; petiole 1–8(–10) mm long; stipules triangular, 1.3–1.8≈0.6–1 mm. Inflorescence with flowers single in the upper axils; peduncle 5.5–18 mm long, indumentum as stem; with 2–3 patent triangular bracts 0.5–1.2≈0.3–0.6 mm at the junction with the pedicel; pedicel 1.5–2(–3) mm long. Flowers pendulous, red, mauve, pink, rarely white or pink with red centre, 5–8 mm wide. Calyx campanulate, 5–6≈5 mm, lobed for 1/2, lobes 3–4.1≈1–1.4 mm, indumentum as stem. Petals obovate or subligulate, (4.2–)5–6≈(1.9–)2.5–3 mm, apex rounded, basal 1/2 to 1/3 ± involute, rarely so involute that petal appears clawed; band of simple hairs above involute zone. Stamens with filaments oblanceolate, 2–3.2≈(0.8–)1.2–1.8 mm, with or without hairs on the distal margin; anthers 2.5–5.5≈0.5–1 mm. Ovary ellipsoid, 1.7–2≈0.9–1.5 mm, truncate, slightly awned, stipe 0.2–0.7 mm; style 3.5–5 mm. Fruit capsule truncate-ovoid, awned, 5–7≈5.5–8 mm, awns patent, 2(–4) mm long, indumentum as stem; seeds reniform, 1.2–1.5≈1–1.2≈1 mm, rugose, densely white papillate.
