Biennial or short-lived perennial. Stems thick, sturdy, quadrangular, with a ± dense indumentum below of long white eglandular hairs and glandular in inflorescence region. Leaves broadly ovate to ovate-oblong, c. 10-20 x 5-10 cm, rugose, serrate-erose, acute, rounded or cordate at base, pubescent to almost lanate; petiole 4-10 cm. Inflorescence paniculate, showy of numerous 6-10-flowered distant verticillasters. Bracts or floral leaves large, green, white or pink, membranous, cuspidate, as long as or longer than flowers. Pedicels 2-3 mm, spreading-erect. Calyx ovate-campanulate, c. 10 mm in flower lengthening to c. 13 mm in fruit, with glandular and eglandular hairs and sessile glands; upper lip with 3 spinulose teeth; lower lip with 2 narrow ovate spinulose teeth. Corolla white, lilac or cream, 20-30 mm; upper lip falcate; tube c. 10 mm long, ventricose, squamulate. Stamens with an elongated connective and a sterile dolabriform lower theca. Nutlets 4, c. 3 x 2 mm, ± globose, scarcely trigonous, rounded, pale brown with darker veins.