Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in northeastern Washington; northeastern Washington to western Montana, more common in the Great Plains..

Habitat: Roadsides and other dry, open places.

Flowers: June-September

Origin: Native

Growth Duration: Perennial

Conservation Status: Review Group 1 in Washington (WANHP)

Pollination: Bumblebees, bees, butterflies, flies

Short-lived perennial from a taproot, with one to several square stems 3-12 dm. tall; herbage densely spreading-hairy.

Leaves opposite, all cauline, narrowed to a sessile base or a petiole up to 1 cm. long; leaf blade broadly elliptic to ovate, 4-11 cm. long and 2-5 cm. wide, coarsely serrate and rough-veiny.

Inflorescence of a few elongate spikes terminating the stem and branches; bracts which subtend each flower lanceolate, about 4 mm. long; calyx 5-angled and unequally 5-toothed, 4-5 mm. long; corolla deep blue or purple, the tube 6-7 mm. long, the flaring limb 7-11 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.