Perennial with large fusiform tuberous root, up to 1 m long. Stems several, annual, up to 2 m long, prostrate, mostly angular, often stout, ± zigzag, usually (like petioles, leaves, peduncles and calyx), pubescent with yellowish or brownÂish hairs, rarely glabrous. Leaves variable in size and shape, usually oblong or elliptic, varyÂing to ovate or linear, 20-150 x 4-80 mm, entire, base usually subcordate to rounded, apex acute to emarginate, margin ciliate, upper surÂface usually yellowish strigose, lower surface as thinly or more densely so; petiole usually shortÂer than leaf. Peduncles 1-several-flowered, usually shorter than leaves; bracteoles mostly lanceolate, hairy, a little shorter than sepals; pedicels not longer than 6 mm. Sepals subequal, lanceolate to ovate-lanceolate, acute or acumiÂnate, outer ones densely hairy, inner ones less hairy, 12-25 mm long. Corolla funnel-shaped, 35-70 mm long and ± as wide, magenta; mid-petaline areas usually thinly silky hairy. Capsule indehiscent, subglobose, apiculate, style base persistent, glabrous, dark brown, loosely enclosed by sepals, 12-15 mm in diamÂeter. Seeds 1-4, glabrous, punctate to smooth, grey, + 7 mm long. Flowering time October to April, mostly December and January.
