Herbs usually less than 30 cm tall, drying black. Stems erect, unbranched. Stem leaves alternate, lanceolate-linear to lanceolate-oblong, pinnatifid to pinnatisect. Inflorescences capitate to racemose. Corolla purple-red or blackish purple, large; tube shorter or slightly longer than calyx; galea strongly curved, 4--5 mm wide, densely long pubescent at margin and back; beak cylindric, long, bent downward.

Two species: SW China, Bhutan, India, N Myanmar, Nepal, Sikkim; both species in China.