Perennial with a deeply buried taproot. Stems mostly prostrate, naked, buried beneath stones with only the ascending leafy tips in evidence, 2–10 cm long. Herbage puberulent to glandular-pubescent. Leaves short-petiolate; blade linear-lanceolate to oblong, 7–25 mm long. Inflorescence clusters of several sessile flowers at stem tips. Flowers: calyx 5–9 mm long; corolla white to blue, the tube 8–13 mm long, lobes 3–10 mm long; stamens exserted, all attached at the same level (
Lesica et al. 2012. Manual of Montana Vascular Plants. BRIT Press. Fort Worth, TX).
Our plants are varieties
debilis and
camporum Payson.