Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to California, east to the Rocky Mountains and the Canadian Great Plains.

Habitat: Meadows and wet thickets, bogs, streambanks, and coniferous forest openings at middle elevations in the mountains.

Flowers: July-September

Origin: Native

Growth Duration: Perennial

Conservation Status: Not of concern

Pollination: Bumblebees, bees, flies, butterflies, hummingbirds

Stout, glabrous and glaucous perennial from thick rhizomes, the several simple, hollow stems 10-20 dm. tall.

Leaves numerous, gradually reduced upward, all divided over half their length into five broad, wedge-shaped segments, these sharply 2-3 times toothed; the blades of the lower leaves may be 15-20 cm. broad.

Inflorescence a simple or compound raceme, rather elongate and loosely many-flowered; sepals 5, deep blue-purple, oblong-elliptic, 6-12 mm. long, the spur straight, shorter than the blade of the upper sepal; petals 4, small, pale blue; stamens numerous; pistils 3.

Follicles erect, 10-14 mm. long, glabrous.