General:
Perennial herb from a branched stem-base and a taproot; stems several, ascending to erect, silky spreading-hairy during flowering otherwise, appressed stiff-hairy to fine grey-hairy, 10-40 cm tall.

Leaves:
Basal and lower stem leaves alternate, oblong to oblanceolate in outline, stalked, pinnatifid, the lobes linear-oblong, silky spreading hairy, at least when young, 2-6.5 cm long; middle and upper stem leaves similar, reduced upwards.

Flowers:
Inflorescence a coiled, 1-sided, short, dense, spike-like, terminal cluster; corollas dark blue or purple, hairy inside and out, 5-6 mm long and wide; calyces hairy, the lobes linear; stamens long-exserted, 2-3 times as long as the corolla, glabrous.

Fruits:
Capsules; seeds 8-18, 1-2 mm long, pitted.

Source:  The Illustrated Flora of British Columbia