Stems erect, ascending, or decumbent at base, 1.5-3 dm, finely hairy; lvs narrowly oblong-oblanceolate to lanceolate, tending to be erect or ascending, ±pubescent, the margins ciliate; infl very dense and compact; its branches very short, the pedicels 1-4 mm; cal pubescent, not glandular; cor 1.5-2 cm wide, usually red-purple, varying to blue-purple or white, the tube glabrous; style short; 2n=14. Dry woods, sandy pine-lands, and open slopes; s. Ky. to w. N.C., n. Fla., and e. Miss. Apr.-June.
Gleason, Henry A. & Cronquist, Arthur J. 1991. Manual of vascular plants of northeastern United States and adjacent Canada. lxxv + 910 pp.
