Plant: shrub; stem < 2 m, generally leafless in flower, canescent Leaves: simple, opposite; petiole < 20 mm; blade 1-6 cm, ovate, triangular, or ± round, puberulent INFLORESCENCE: raceme; bracts < 1 cm, lanceolate-elliptic, falling early; bractlets 2-5 mm, narrow-tapered Flowers: calyx 5-8 mm, lobes 5, lanceolate; corolla 2-4 cm, puberulent, dull scarlet (yellow), lips 1-2 cm, < tube, lobes of lower lip 1-4 mm Fruit: 1.5-2 cm, canescent; seed 2.5-3.5 mm, ± round, mottled Misc: Dry sandy or rocky soils, especially washes; < 800 m; Mar-Jun Notes: seeds dispersed by explosive action References: J.C. Hickman, ed. The Jepson Manual.ASU specimens.