Distribution: Occurring chiefly east of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia to California, east across North America to the Atlantic Coast.

Habitat: Marshes, wetlands, streamsides, and other riparian areas.

Flowers: July-September

Origin: Native

Growth Duration: Biennial, Perennial

Conservation Status: Not of concern

Pollination: Bumblebees, bees, butterflies, flies

Fibrous-rooted perennial from a short crown, erect, usually with a square, single stem 5-15 dm. tall.

Leaves opposite, with petioles 1-2 cm. long; leaf blades lanceolate or lance-ovate, acute, scabrous, 4-15 cm. long and 1-4 cm. wide, sharply serrate, occasionally shallowly lobed.

Inflorescence of spikes 3-10 cm. long, in a panicle at the top of the stem, often forming a flat-topped cluster, the stem simple below; bracts inconspicuous, awl-shaped, 2-2.5 mm. long; calyx 5-angled and unequally 5-toothed, 2.5-3 mm. long; corolla blue or violet, the tube 3-4 mm. long, the flaring limb 2.5-5 mm. wide; stamens 4; style slender, 2-cleft, only one lobe stigmatic; ovary superior, with 2 carpels, each carpel partitioned into 2 cells.

Fruit dry, separating into 4 nutlets.