An erect, annual herb about 20-30 cm high, stem stout, bluntly 4-angled, glabrous or sparsely pubescent, often tinged, with red; leaves broadly ovate, subacute or obtuse at apex, rounded or subcordate at base, crenate-serrate, glabrous above, densely scabrid beneath, rather fleshy; panicles diffusely branched, spikes sub tetragonous, globose to oblong; bracts bradly ovate; calyx pubescent, tubular; upper lip deltoid-lanceolate, lower lip slightly truncate, tube very variable, glabrous or pubescent; fruit calyx with upper lip large, broad, entire, concealing the mouth; corolla pale purple; upper lip short, lower lip with broadly ovate, long lobes, tube decurved; stamens 4, exserted or not, anther cells confluent, filaments free; disc lobed, anterior lobe slightly prolonged; ovary 4-lobed, style 2 fid at the apex; nutlets dry, ovoid, smooth, dark brown shining.