Erect much branched, biennial or perennial herb up to 120 cm tall. Stem and branches covered with rigid white hairs 1-2 mm long, arising from tuberculate base. Basal leaves petiolate, lanceolate, including petioles 10-20 x 2-4 cm, upper surface covered uniformly with thin subappressed hairs mixed with longer stouter hairs arising from tuberculate base; lower surface densely hairy, nervose. Cauline leaves similar, but smaller and subsessile. Cymes axillary and terminal, geminate to dichotomous branched, much elongating in fruit. Pedicels very short in flower, up to 3 mm and reflexed in fruit. Calyx lobes densely hairy to externally, glabrous within, up to 2 mm long in fruit, spreading Corolla pale blue to almost white with ovate-obtuse lobes. Throat scales broader than long. Nutlets ± round, c. 2 mm, dorsal area uniformly appendiculate; appendages erect, ± of equal length, glochidiate, bases not confluent. Style up to 1 mm in fruit, ± stout.

Fl. Per.: June-August.

Type: N. Yemen: Hadie, Forsskal s.n. (C).

Distribution: Africa (except N.W.), Arabia, Pakistan, Kashmir, India, Sri Lanka, Burma, Nepal, eastward to China, Malaysia.

Very common and widely distributed from sea level to 2500 m.