Annual herb, (5-) 10-20 (-50) cm tall, more or less hispid. Leaves 2-3-pinnatisect, 2-5 cm long; petiole of the lower and basal leaves 1-2.5 cm long, somewhat broad and sheathing at the base; ultimate segments linear or ovate-oblong, hispid or hispidulous, with or without a pointed bristle at the apex. Inflorescences solitary, axillary ;pedicel 1-9 cm long; buds narrow, pyriform, obtuse at the apex, 10-12 mm long, 5-7 mm broad. Sepals 10-12 mm long, c. 5 mm broad, oblong, usually densely pilose outside, hooded at the apex. Petals violet, with a black blotch at base, obovate to sub-rounded, 20-25 mm long. Stamens multiseriate, c. 10 mm long; anthers oblong, c. 1.5 mm long; filaments subulate. Ovary linear-oblong, 8-10 mm long; stigmas 4, capitate, puberulous. Capsule linear, 2-7.5 cm long, 1.5-3 mm broad, densely to sparsely setose, at least at the apex, with erect or recurved peduncle, dehiscing by 3-4 valves from base to the apex. Seeds many, reniform, pitted, c. 1 mm in diameter.