Nelsonia canescens

Herbs 10-20 cm tall, annual or perennial, creeping, sprawling, prostrate, or decumbent. Stems villous, often rooting at nodes. Petioles 0.2-3 (-4) cm, villous;leaf blade elliptic to ovate, 1-2 × 0.4-1.2 cm but basal ones sometimes 6-12 × 3.5-5 cm, both surfaces villous, base cuneate, margin entire, apex acute. Spikes 1.5-4 cm long;bracts elliptic, overlapping, 6-7.5 × 3-4 mm, 5-7 veined. Calyx abaxial lobe approximately 2 × 0.6 mm, apex 2-lobed;adaxial lobe approximately 3 × 1 mm;lateral lobes approximately 2 × 0.5 mm. Corolla bluish purple or white, externally glabrous;tube cylindric for approximately 1.5 mm, contracted near midpoint then expanded into throat;lower lip approximately 2.3 mm;upper lip approximately 2 mm. Stamens inserted at base of throat;filaments 0.5 mm, glabrous. Ovary glabrous with 4-8 ovules per locule. Fruit a capsule of approximately 5 × 2 mm, 8 to 16 seeds. Seeds broadly ellipsoid and granulate (Flora of China Editorial Committee, 2014).