Distribution: Occurring chiefly west of the Cascades crest and along the Columbia River Gorge in Washington; southwestern British Columbia to California.

Habitat: Dry, open ground and grasslands, often at the edge of vernal pools.

Flowers: May-July

Origin: Native

Growth Duration: Annual

Conservation Status: Not of concern

Subglabrous annual, usually simple below and branched above, less often branched from the base, the stems 1-6 dm. tall.

Leaves alternate, entire, subsessile, 2-4 cm. long and 3-15 mm. wide.

Inflorescence of leafy-bracted spikes, the bracts nearly concealing the flowers; calyx tube 4-7 mm. long, the 4 lobes reflexed; petals 4, 5-20 mm. long, obovate, rounded at the top and wedge-shaped at the base, crimson to purple, often spotted; stamens 8; stigma with 4 oval, purplish lobes 1 mm. long; ovary inferior, 4-celled.

Capsule 15-25 mm. long and 3-5 mm. thick, sessile, bulged near the center, 8-ribbed, terete.