Distribution: Widely distributed on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to California, east across North America to the Atlantic Coast.

Habitat: Dry to moist meadows and open woods, from the lowlands to subalpine areas.

Flowers: April-August

Origin: Native

Growth Duration: Perennial

Conservation Status: Not of concern

Pollination: Bumblebees, bees, flies

Glabrous to densely puberulent perennial from slender rhizomes, from stemless to 10 cm. tall.

Leaves short- to long-petiolate, the blade cordate-ovate to lance-ovate, with fine, rounded teeth, 1-3 cm. long; stipules liner-lanceolate, 3-10 mm. long, entire to remotely slender-toothed.

Flowers 5-15 mm. long, the spur on the lowest petal slender, over half the length of the petal; petals blue to deep violet, the lower three with a whitish base penciled in violet, the lateral pair white-bearded; style head bearded with thick hairs. Some flowers also cleistogamous (do not open up but do self-pollinate and produce seed).

Fruit a 3-valved capsule, ovary superior, placentation parietal.