Perennial herbs or subshrubs, 0.3-1.5 m tall, scabrous or sparsely to densely gray pubescent [or tomentose], sometimes somewhat glabrescent. Stem erect, 4-angled. Leaves opposite or 3-whorled, sometimes alternate toward stem apex, ovate-lanceolate to broadly lanceolate, 2.5-10 × 0.5-1.5 cm, base rounded, truncate, or semiclasping, apex acute to subobtuse. Inflorescences terminal, spicate, 15-35 cm; bracts broadly lanceolate or deltoid-ovate. Flowers in 1- to multi-flowered whorled axillary cymes, shortly pedicellate. Floral tube 5-8 × 1.5-2 mm, 12-ribbed; sepals deltate, 0.5-1 mm; epicalyx segments erect, linear, 1.5-2 mm, much longer than sepals. Petals reddish purple to rose-purple, lanceolate-oblanceolate, 7-10 × 1.5-3 mm. Fl. Jul-Sep, fr. Oct. 2n = 30, 50, 58, 60.