Stems erect, simple or virgately branched above, to 1(-1.5) m, softly spreading-hairy; lvs spreading, short-petioled; lfls ovate-oblong to elliptic or obovate, spreading-hairy beneath, ascending-hairy above, those of the main stem 1.5-3.5 cm; apetalous fls numerous in sessile axillary clusters; petaliferous fls purple, 6-8 mm, in dense racemes in the upper axils, on peduncles shorter than the subtending lvs; cal-lobes 1.7-3.5 mm, the 2 uppermost connate less than half their length; fr densely villous; 2n=20. Dry upland woods and barrens; Mass. to n. Fla., w. to Tex., and n. inland to s. Ind., Mo., and Kans. Aug., Sept.
Gleason, Henry A. & Cronquist, Arthur J. 1991. Manual of vascular plants of northeastern United States and adjacent Canada. lxxv + 910 pp.