Description

Key Characters:

Growth Form: Shrubs, 5–30 dm.

Stems: Stems branched, tomentose.

Roots:

Leaves: Leaves simple. Opposite. Blades ovate to ovate–lanceolate, 10–15 × 2–4 cm. <u>Apex</u> acute or acuminate. Apex acute or acuminate. <u>Base</u> attenuate or cuneate. Base attenuate or cuneate. <u>Upper surfaces</u> glabrous or glabrescent; <u>lower surfaces</u> tomentose. Upper surfaces glabrous or glabrescent; lower surfaces tomentose. <u>Margins</u> serrate or subentire. Margins serrate or subentire. Petioles 5 mm long. <b>Stipules</b> present, auriculate. Stipules present, auriculate.

Flowers: Flowers in inflorescences terminal, tapered–spicate or narrowly paniculate thyrses, 10–20 × 2–4 cm, cymes almost encircling inflorescence axis, 10–25 pairs, 3–30–flowered. pedicels essentially absent; bracteoles present. Flowers bisexual (perfect) fragrant. <b>Calyx</b> sparsely hairy externally, tube 1.5–2 mm, lobes 0.5–1.5 mm. <b>Corolla</b> straight, violet or pink, rarely white, often with yellow–orange eye, salverform, tube 8–10 mm, lobes suborbiculate, 2–3 × 2–3 mm. Stamens 4, adnate to corolla tube, included, rarely exserted, equal; filaments glabrous, staminode 0. <b>Ovary</b> superior, ovoid, 2 mm, glabrous or puberulent; <u>stigma</u> clavate, 1 mm.

Fruit: Capsules brown; narrowly ellipsoid; 5–9 × 1.5–2 mm; glabrous or puberulent; dehiscence primarily septicidal. Seeds threadlike; 3–4 × 0.5 mm; wings long.

Ploidy: 2n = 76

Habitat: Roadsides; railroad embankments; quarries; streambeds; landslide scars; sandy lakeshores; disturbed sites.

Elevation Range: 0–1,300 m.