An annual herb with spreading and densely hairy branches; hairs dimorphic; shorter ones thin, appressed, up to 0.3 mm long; longer ones stiff, up to 0.6 mm long with smaller bases. Leaves oblanceolate to lanceolate, 3.5-8.5 x 0.6-2.0 cm, amplexicaul or nor; middle cauline ones the largest, hairy on both surfaces, the upper surface with hairs up to 1.8 mm long. Inflorescence terminal, lax, few-flowered. Bracts leafy. Pedicel 10-25 mm long. Flowers mauve to pinkish blue or lilac. Calyx 5-partite, hairy, 10-12 mm long, base ± auricled; lobes oblong, narrowed towards apex. Corolla exceeding calyx length, infundibuliform, sparesely hairy on outside; lobes suborbicular, subacuminate. Anthers hairy, aristate-the connectives later twisting together. Nutlets 4-5 mm long, ovoid, smooth, white to bluish.

Fl. Per.: Mostly throughout the year. Sporadic, but normally from March-August.

Type: Habibat in India Orientale, Herb. Linn. 188.2 (LINN).

Distribution: Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Philippines, Mauritius.

Variable in the degree of pubescence. Plants with amplexicaul leaves and a glabrous undersurface to leaves (A. Rahman, 25113; Iftikhar, s.n.; S.I. Ali et al 4484; Sultanul Abedin 5232; 5582; M. Fahimuddin s.n. 153.1963) designated as var. amplexicaul, occasionally exhibit dense pubescence.

Widely distributed in Pakistan up to 1400 m.