Herbs annual, 1--18(--25) cm tall, ± villous, not drying black. Roots woody. Stems single or numerous, ± dark purplish, sometimes branched basally, pubescent; central stem erect, outer stems procumbent to ascending. Basal leaves clustered, withering early; petiole to 3 cm. Stem leaves absent or 1 or 2(--4) pairs, opposite, ± sessile; leaf blade ovate-oblong, usually less than 3 cm, pinnatisect; segments 5--7 pairs, ovate, incised-dentate. Flowers opposite or in whorls of 4 apically; bracts ± leaflike. Pedicel short. Calyx to 6 mm, membranous, usually tinged with red, hispid; lobes 5, unequal, posterior lobe entire, lateral lobes 3-parted. Corolla rose to purplish red; tube ca. 2 X as long as calyx; galea bent at a right angle apically; beak bent slightly downward, straight, ca. 7 mm, slender; lower lip ca. as long as galea, glabrous or minutely ciliate, middle lobe hoodlike. Anterior filaments densely pubescent, other filaments sparsely pubescent or glabrous. Capsule obliquely ovoid, ca. 1/2 exceeding calyx, apiculate. Fl. Jul--Sep, fr. Aug--Oct.

Open stony pastures, grassy slopes; 2700--4900 m. SW Sichuan, S Xizang, Yunnan [Bhutan, Nepal, Sikkim]