Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; Washington to California, east to Idaho; also in Colorado.

Habitat: Coniferous forest understory, often associated with moss-covered boulder fields with well-developed organic layer.

Flowers: April-June

Origin: Native

Growth Duration: Perennial

Conservation Status: Not of concern

Pollination: Bumblebees, bees, flies

Glabrous perennial from deep-seated rhizomes, the flowering stems 5-15 cm. tall.

Leaf blades glaucous and somewhat purplish on the lower surface, 2-5 cm. long and broad, deeply cleft into 3 main lobes and dissected into ultimate linear segments; stipules small, membranous, comb-like.

Flowers about 12 mm. long, yellow, the upper pair of petals brownish-backed, the lower three purplish-penciled, the lateral pair sparsely bearded; style head sparsely bearded.

Fruit a 3-valved, puberulent capsule, ovary superior, placentation parietal.