Taprooted annuals with sparsely long-hairy foliage. Stems simple or branched, to 100 cm. Leaves linear-lanceolate, 3–12 cm long, sessile or united around the stem. Inflorescence a few-flowered, terminal, open cyme. Flowers: calyx united into a strongly purple-veined tube, 12–15 mm long and linear lobes 15–30 mm long; petals indistinctly clawed, red, smaller than the calyx lobes; stamens 10; styles 5. Capsule 15–20 mm long (
Lesica et al. 2012. Manual of Montana Vascular Plants. BRIT Press. Fort Worth, TX).