Herbs hispid, hairs simple and 2- or 3-branched, jointed, 0.5–2 mm. Stems erect. Pedicels 13–46 mm, 25–55 mm in fruit. Flowers: calyx 6–12 mm; corolla 10–17 mm; anthers yel­low, rarely blue-tinged, 1–3 mm. Fruiting calyces 25–40 mm. 2n = 24.

Flowering Mar–Sep. Dry, rocky soil, prairies, fields, disturbed habitats; 100–600 m; Ark., Ill., Iowa, Kans., La., Mo., Nebr., Okla., Tex.

Variety pumila is morphologically distinguishable by the abundance of two- or three-branched hairs. It is found in dry rocky soil on the eastern Great Plains.