Erect biennial or perennial herb, 120–150 cm high, densely hairy with glandular and eglandular hairs on vegetative parts. Basal leaves ovate, 9–15 cm long, 4–7 cm wide, margins crenate or doubly toothed, surfaces discolorous; petiole 5–7 cm long, winged. Inflorescences usually 1-sided by twisting of pedicels, to c. 50 cm long, flowers single in bract axils; pedicels 5–15 mm long. Sepals c. 10 mm long, ribbed in fruit; corolla 3.5–4 cm long, white, pink or purple, blotched inside, tube dilated beyond calyx, lobes rounded, pointed outwards; anthers divergent. Capsule ovoid, c. 10 mm long, glandular-pubescent; persistent style 2–2.5 mm long Flowers late spring and early summer.
GipP, Gold, CVU, DunT, EGL, EGU, HSF, HNF, OtR, Strz, VAlp. Also naturalised NSW. Native to western Europe. Frequently cultivated, occasionally naturalised and locally abundant in moist, shaded areas, particularly in hilly areas, sometimes along watercourses near the coast.
Source:
Barker, W.R. (1999). Scrophulariaceae. In: Walsh, N.G.; Entwisle, T.J., Flora of Victoria Vol. 4, Cornaceae to Asteraceae, pp. 483–528. Inkata Press, Melbourne.
