Erect, sometimes branching, glabrous herb to 75 cm high. Leaves 2–8 cm long, basal leaves petiolate, cauline leaves sessile. Involucral bracts whorled, leaf-like. Flowers blue, sometimes pink or white; sepals 8–25 mm long. Follicles 5, united forming a 5- or 10-locular capsule, 8–35 mm long, beaked. Flowers Nov.–Jan.
VVP, Gold, HSF, VAlp. Also naturalised SA, NSW, ACT. Native to Eurasia. Grown as an ornamental, with populations sometimes establishing on roadsides.
