Annual, hispid or glabrescent, erect and branched herb; basal leaves 1-2 pinnatifid, dentate, bristly hairy or glabrous, terminal segments much longer than the laterals, lower leaves larger, petiolate, less dissected, upper leaves sessile, smaller and much dissected with amplexicaulate base; peduncles erect, dialated at summit, hairy; flowers, solitary, terminal, deep purple to scarlet or white; sepals 2, bristly-hairy; petals obovate, unequal, suborbicular; stamens numerous, free; filaments, filiform; anthers oblong; stigma convex, rays 8-12 overlapping, ovary 1-celled, opposite the placenta, many ovuled, style absent; capsule stalked, campanulate, subglobose, glabrous 1-2 cm long; seeds dark brown.