Annuals 8–35 cm. Stems erect or ascending, pilose and puberulent. Leaves 10–50 mm; blade: proximal margins entire, distal 3–7-lobed. Inflorescences racemes, 2–6 cm; bracts 10–20 mm, margins 3–5-lobed in proximal 1/2, proximal not resembling distal leaves, midlobe purple-pink distally, ovate, 4–6 mm wide, apex obtuse, cuspidate, lateral lobes narrowly triangular. Pedicels 1–2 mm. Flowers: calyx 8–12 mm; corolla 14–20 mm, equal to or slightly longer than bracts, abaxial lip inflated, lobes 3, triangular, adaxial lip purple-pink, 5 mm, 1 mm longer than abaxial, puberulent, tip notably hooked, not bearded. Capsules 6–7 mm, apex acute. Seeds 15–20, dark brown, ovoid to reniform, 1–1.5 mm, shallowly reticulate, not ridged. 2n = 28.

Phenology: Flowering May–Aug.
Habitat: Moist fields, grasslands, rocky slopes.
Elevation: (300–)600–2500 m.

Distribution

• Generated Map
• Legacy Map

B.C., Idaho, Mont., Oreg., Wash., Wyo.

Discussion

Orthocarpus tenuifolius is one of the plants first collected by Meriwether Lewis during the Corps of Discovery Expedition.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.