Perennial; stems 0.8-2.0 dm tall, erect, or slightly upward-curving, retrorsely puberulent; leaves mostly basal, opposite, entire or rarely few toothed, lanceolate, elliptic, or spatulate, basal leaves somewhat petiolate, stem leaves sessile; inflorescence short, 4-12 cm long; calyx 5-8 mm long in flower, lobes lanceolate, glandular hairy; corollas 10-15 mm long, throat 3.5-6 mm wide, dark blue to purple with dark violet-purple guidelines, glandular, pubescent externally; staminode included within the throat or barely projecting but clearly visible, bearded with yellow thread-like hairs its full length, the hairs pointing back down the throat; fertile stamens explanate. Flowers May and June.