Shrubs 1-4 m tall, erect or suberect, ashy-pubescent on younger twigs, becoming glabrescent later. Leaves lanceolate to elliptic, acuminate, (3-) 4-10 cm long, 1-2.5 (-3) cm broad, crenate-serrate, pubescent, shortly petiolate. Cymes usually thyrsoid, terminal, (5-)7-10(-12) cm long, 2-2.5(-3) cm broad. Flowers 12-13 mm across, purple or blue, sometimes white with bluish tinge; bracts 2-2.5 mm long, linear, acute, pubescent. Calyx deeply 5(-6)-fid, 3-4 mm long in flower, up to 6 mm long in fruit, persistent, divided half-way down in fruit, each segment 3-nerved. Corolla-tube 10-12 mm long; limb 5-lobed, upper 4 oblong, nearly equal with rounded apices, lower slightly larger and broader and darker in colour. Stamens exserted, slightly longer than corolla-tube. Capsules 4-6 mm long, globose, bluish, pubescent, somewhat 4-lobed, ultimately separating into 4 valves each carrying 1 seed.

Fl. Per.: Feb.-April.

Type: Described from Bengal.

Distribution: Subtropical or outer Himalayas from Pakistan to Bhutan, India and Bangladesh.

Common in the low hills of Punjab, and has also been reported from Baluchistan. Sometimes also cultivated as an ornamental.