Erect stemmed and unbranched, may have hairs on stems. Alternate sessile to short stemmed leaves, blades narrow to ovate with pointed tips, margins lined with small, gland-tipped teeth. Red flowers on slender stalks.
Stems erect and unbranched, hairless to soft hairs; leaves alternate, stemless; blades oblong to ovate-lanceolate, margins lined with small, gland-tipped teeth. Flowers red and strongly 2-lipped; slender terminal spike-like clusters.
Habitat
Found growing in small patches along streams and rivers. Its roots need to be wet and its flowers must have partial shade and some sunlight.
Flower Characteristics
Tall, open spike-like cluster, 12 to 24 inches long. Each flower, 1-1/2 inches wide, has 2 upper and 3 spreading lower petals that form a thin tube at its base. Flowers alternate on the stem with lower flowers opening before the upper.
Leaf and Stem Characteristics
Thin, narrow to ovate leaves, 2 to 6 inches long, margins lined with small, gland-tipped teeth. There may be hairs on stems.
Fruit and Seed Characteristics
10-ribbed and papery.
Many seeds per capsule.