Biennials or perennials; (short-lived); glaucous, glabrous or sparsely pubescent. Stems branched often proximally and distally, (1.4–) 2–6.5 (–7.5) dm, (glabrous or pubescent). Basal leaves: petiole (0.8–) 2–4 (–6.5) cm, ciliate; blade usually oblanceolate, rarely spatulate or oblong, (3–) 6–15 (–22) cm × (6–) 10–25 (–40) mm, margins entire, (surfaces glabrous). Cauline leaves (ascending); sessile; blade lanceolate to linear-lanceolate, (1.7–) 2.2–6 (–9) cm × (3–) 5–15 (–30) mm, (base sagittate to somewhat amplexicaul), margins entire, (surfaces glabrous). Racemes corymbose, dense, terminal not elongated in fruit, (flower buds ovate). Fruiting pedicels usually horizontal to divaricate, rarely divaricate-ascending, often curved upward, slender, 6–11.5 (–17) mm, slightly flattened at base. Flowers: sepals erect, ovate to oblong-ovate, (3–) 3.5–5 (–6) × (1–) 1.5–2 mm; petals lavender to purple, spatulate to broadly obovate, (6.5–) 8–11.5 (–14) × 2.5–5 (–6) mm, margins not crisped, claw strongly differentiated from blade, [slender, (2–) 2.5–4 (–5) mm, narrowest at base]; nectar glands confluent, subtending bases of stamens; filaments tetradynamous, median pairs (3–) 3.5–5 (–6) mm, lateral pair (2–) 2.5–4 (–5) mm; anthers included, ovate to ovate-oblong, 1–2 mm, not circinately coiled; gynophore (stout), 0.5–0.8 (–1.2) mm. Fruits erect, slightly torulose, usually slightly incurved, rarely straight, terete, (1–) 1.3–3.2 (–5) cm × (0.8–) 1.5–2.3 mm; ovules 20–30 per ovary; style cylindrical, (0.5–) 1.5–1.7 (–3) mm. Seeds (plump), (1.3–) 1.5–2 × 0.8–1 mm.

Phenology: Flowering Jun–Jul.
Habitat: Wet sedge meadows, streamsides
Elevation: 1800-2800 m

Distribution

• Generated Map
• Legacy Map

Colo., Idaho, Mont., Wyo.

Discussion

Of conservation concern.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.

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