E-Flora BC: Electronic Atlas of the Flora of British Columbia

General:
Perennial herb, from basal rosettes or fleshy bulblets, lacking rhizomes; stems 15-150 cm tall, simple or branched, generally finely stiff-hairy in lines or spreading-hairy.

Leaves:
Opposite, or alternate above, lance- or lance egg-shaped, 1-15 cm long, finely sharp-toothed to almost entire, veins distinct; stalks 0-8 mm long.

Flowers:
Inflorescence a terminal, leafy-bracted panicle or raceme, finely stiff-hairy, with some spreading and glandular hairs; hypanthium 0.5-2.6 mm long; petals 2-14 mm long, rose-purple to white, notched at tip; sepals 2-7.5 mm long, often reddish; stamens less than or equal to length of pistil; stigmas club- or head-shaped.

Fruits:
Capsules, 1.5-10 cm long, hairy; stalks 0-30 mm long; seeds 0.8-1.9 mm long, longitudinally grooved, tuft of hairs white, 2-8 mm long, readily detaching.

Notes:
Three subspecies occur in BC:

1. Stem leaves relatively narrow and not crowded around inflorescences; plants usually branched above; petals white to pale pink or purple.................. ssp. ciliatum

1. Stem leaves broad and often crowded around inflorescences; plants usually unbranched above; petals dark purple.

2. Underground scales or buds present; inflorescences loose, extended...................... ssp. glandulosum (Lehm.) Hoch & Raven

2. Underground scales or buds absent; inflorescences more or less flat-topped...................... ssp. watsonii (Barbey) Hoch & Raven