Annual or biennial herb to c. 60 cm high. Stems and lvs densely clothed in fine grey hairs (appearing greenish in shade); hairs minutely bulbous-based, sometimes ± appressed. Basal lvs to c. 25 cm long; petiole to 10 cm long; lamina elliptic-lanceolate or elliptic-oblong; base attenuate or winged; apex obtuse, mucronate; cauline lvs smaller and sessile towards infl. Cymes tomentose; pedicels downward curving at fruiting. Calyx 2-3 mm long, to c. 5 mm long at fruiting, tomentose, broadly ovate or oblong-ovate. Corolla tube 2-3 mm long; limb 7-12 mm diam., bright blue (occasionally pink or white in cultivation); lobes suborbicular; scales deep blue, 2-lobed, slightly cucullate (more evident in dried material). Stamens inserted below scales; filaments very short; anthers c. 1 mm long. Nutlets obliquely attached to gynobasic style, 3-5 mm long, broadly ovate to sub-orbicular, with glochidia covering back and confluent at the base around margin to form a crest.