Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia to Baja California, Mexico, east to Idaho, Utah, Arizona, and west Texas.

Habitat: Balds, meadows, prairies, roadsides, and other open areas at low to middle elevations.

Flowers: April-May

Origin: Native

Growth Duration: Annual

Conservation Status: Not of concern

Pollination: Bumblebees, bees, butterflies, flies

Stems ascendant to erect, green or brown, hirsute with hispid hairs; variable branches with stiff calcified or silicified walls.

Spreading and alternate, green, coarse-hairy to bristly, entire, apex acute to acuminate.

Inflorescence is a scorpioid cyme, axis coiled but unfurling with floral maturation; calyx lobes 5, equal in length, not fused above base; corolla 7-11 mm., tube exserted, tube 10-veined near base, typically orange, generally with 5 dark spots on petals; stamens attached above middle of tube with variable height, anthers generally appressed to stigma; style exserted to throat.

Nutlets 2-3.5 mm. long, tubercled, occasionally ridged.