Glabrous perennial with short rhizomes and fibrous roots. Stems ascending to erect, simple, 5–40 cm. Leaves oblanceolate; basal petiolate, 2–25 cm long; cauline sessile, 1–15 mm long. Inflorescence of few-flowered axillary cymes. Flowers 5-merous, rotate; pedicels 1–5 cm long; calyx 4–8 mm long, divided to near the base, the lobes lanceolate; corolla blue to violet, divided to near the base; petals 8–12 mm long, each with 2 dark, fimbriate glands at the base; style short; stigma 2-lobed. Capsule ovoid, 10–13 mm long (
Lesica et al. 2012. Manual of Montana Vascular Plants. BRIT Press. Fort Worth, TX).
Wet, usually non-calcareous soil of meadows, fens, thickets, often along streams, around ponds; montane to alpine (
Lesica et al. 2012. Manual of Montana Vascular Plants. BRIT Press. Fort Worth, TX).