Distribution: Widely distributed on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to California, east to the northern Great Plains.

Habitat: Wet places, from sea level to middle elevations in the mountains.

Flowers: March-September

Origin: Native

Growth Duration: Annual, Perennial

Conservation Status: Not of concern

Pollination: Bees

A highly variable species, either annual from fibrous roots, or perennial with stolons or rhizomes, the stems from less than a decimeter to nearly a meter high.

Leaves opposite, soft and often somewhat succulent, the blades from quite small to nearly 1 dm. long, irregularly dentate, ovate to reniform-cordate; leaves nearly palmately veined, the 3-7 main veins arising near the base; lower leaves petiolate, becoming sessile upward, those of the inflorescence reduced and clasping.

Flowers several to many in terminal racemes, on long pedicels, or solitary in dwarf forms; calyx 5-toothed, irregular, the upper tooth much the largest, the 2 lower ones tending to fold upward; corolla 1-4 cm. long, strongly bilabiate, with flaring throat, yellow with maroon dots or splotches on the pubescent lower lip; stamens 4.

Capsule.