Distribution: Alaska to Oregon east to Idaho, Montana and Wyoming; in the Olympics and Cascades in Washington and the Wallowas in Oregon

Habitat: Alpine mountain slopes

Flowers: June - Early August

Origin: Native

Growth Duration: Perennial

Conservation Status: Not of concern

Pollination: Apomixis, bees, flies

Nearly glabrous, tufted, mat-forming perennial, the mats up to 2 dm. broad and 4 cm. high, often purplish-tinged throughout.

Leaves closely crowded on the numerous sterile shoots, opposite, oblong to obovate, 2.5 -5 mm. long, sessile, entire, with coarse marginal hairs; leaves fewer on the upright flowering stems.

Flowering stems simple, 1-4 cm. long, 1-flowered; calyx cup-shaped, divided + its length, the 5 lobes oblong-oval, 2.5-3.5 mm. long, fleshy, erect; petals 5, purple, erect, 7-9 mm. long, narrowly obovate to ovate-oblong; stamens 10, twice as long as the calyx lobes.

Ovary about 1/5 inferior; capsule 6-8 mm. long; carpels 2.