Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in northeastern Washington; southeastern British Columbia to northeastern Washington, east to Idaho and Montana.

Habitat: Open hillsides and forest openings, from to fairly high elevations in the mountains.

Flowers: June-September

Origin: Native

Growth Duration: Perennial

Conservation Status: Not of concern

Pollination: Bees, flies, beetles, wasps

Perennial from a branching crown, fibrous-rooted, the several stems erect or ascending, 1.5-3 dm. tall.

Leaves crowded, scabrous, sessile, 1-nerved, 15-40 mm. long and 1-4 mm. wide, tipped with a short spine.

Heads solitary, top-shaped, the disk 12-25 mm. wide; rays about 13, 12-20 mm. long, blue to violet; involucre 9-14 mm. high, its bracts imbricate, glandular-hairy; pappus of capillary bristles, double, the outer 1 mm. long.

Achenes silky.