Herbs annual. Stems ca. 45(-60) cm, puberulent. Leaves mostly basal; petiole 3-10 cm; leaf blade oblong-ovate to lanceolate, 4-13.5 × (1-)2-4(-5.5) cm, abaxially purple, glabrous or veins sparsely puberulent; stem leaves 2-paired, petiole to 1 cm. Inflorescence densely puberulent; verticillasters 2-6-flowered, widely spaced, in terminal or axillary racemes or panicles 7-14 cm; bracts lanceolate, shorter to longer than calyx; bracteoles 1-2 mm. Pedicel 1-2 mm. Calyx tubular-campanulate, 8-9 mm, purple, veins sparsely pilose, tube ca. 6 mm; upper lip semicircular, ca. 2 × 3 mm, apex obtuse; lower lip slightly longer than upper, ca. 3 × 3 mm, 2-cleft; teeth triangular, apex acuminate. Corolla purple, ca. 1.2 cm, pubescent; tube pilose annulate inside, tubular, ca. 9 mm; upper lip erect, ovate, ca. 2.5 × 2 mm; lower lip ca. 3.5 × 4.5 mm, middle lobe obcordate, lateral lobes circular. Stamens exserted; filaments ca. 1 mm; connectives ca. 5 mm, upper arms ca. 4 × as long as lower. Nutlets unknown. Fl. May.

Used medicinally.

Closely allied to Salvia scapiformis.

* Valleys, forests. Fujian, Hunan, Jiangxi