Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to California, east across North America to the Atlantic Coast.

Habitat: Lawns and waste ground.

Flowers: March-May

Origin: Introduced from Europe

Growth Duration: Annual

Conservation Status: Not of concern

Pollination: Bees, flies

Taprooted annual, the stems 1-4 dm. long, lax, simple or branched below, loosely ascending, often rooting at the lower nodes.

Principal leaves opposite, short-petiolate, the blade broadly elliptic or ovate, with rounded serrations, 1-2 cm. long and half to three-fourths as wide.

Flowers single on long pedicels (up to 4 cm. in fruit) along an elongate stem, each subtended by a leaf-like, alternate bract, which are reduced upward; sepals 4, prominent, often veiny; corolla blue, the lower petal usually white, 5-11 mm. wide, rotate, 4-lobed; the upper lobe the largest; style 1.5-2.5 mm. long; stamens 2.

Capsule 5-9 mm. wide and 3-5 mm. high, with a broad notch.