Herbs, usually ± rosette, erect or ascending, rarely rooting at nodes. Roots not brownish-tomentose. Stems unbranched or sparsely branched, 2--10 cm; internodes pilose or villous. Leaves spirally arranged, sessile; blade dull green, linear-lanceolate, 5--33 ´ 0.3--1.2 cm (distal leaf blades equal to or narrower than sheaths when sheaths opened, flattened), margins sparsely ciliate, apex acute to acuminate, pilose. Inflorescences terminal; bracts foliaceous, ascending, pilose, margins sparsely ciliate. Flowers distinctly pedicillate; pedicels (2--)4--6 cm, pilose with glandular or glandular and eglandular hairs; sepals suffused with pink to purple, 5--11 mm, pilose with glandular, eglandular hairs, glandular hairs numerous, conspicuous, longer hairs 1.5--6 mm; petals distinct, rose to blue or purplish, broadly ovate, not clawed, 8--16 mm; stamens free; filaments bearded. Capsules 4--6 mm. Seeds 2--3 mm; hilum as long as seed. 2n = 24.

Flowering spring (Apr--May). Wooded slopes on rocky hillsides; Ark., Mo.