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

General:
Biennial or short-lived perennial herb from a deep taproot; stems ascending to erect, several, branched, angular, harshly barbed-hairy throughout but nearly glabrous near the bases, 0.3-1 m tall.

Leaves:
Basal leaves linear to shallowly lobed, 10-15 cm long; stem leaves alternate, unstalked, oblong to egg-shaped but less deeply lobed.

Flowers:
Inflorescence of numerous flowers in a compact terminal or axillary cluster; petals 5, lemon yellow, 2.5-8 cm long; calyces 1-2.5 mm long; stamens 2/3 the length of the petals; bracts linear.

Fruits:
Capsules, oblong, 1.5-3.5 cm long; seeds numerous, flattened, winged, greyish-green or brownish.

Notes:
Two, sometimes difficult to separate, varieties are recognized in BC:

1. Petals at least 4-8 cm long; fruits usually over 2 cm long ...................var. laevicaulis

1. Petals 1.5-4 cm long; fruits usually less than 2 cm long...................... var. parviflora (Dougl. ex Hook.) C.L. Hitchc.