Inflorescences mostly paniculate with 1-2 basal branches, occasionally racemose, 2-15 × 2-5 cm. Flowers: outer tepals not clawed, or clawed less than 5 mm. Capsules 9-20 × 4-7 mm.

Flowering Apr--Jul. Inland grasslands, open pine woods; 500--1300 m; Alta., B.C., Sask.; Colo., Idaho, Mont., Nebr., N.Dak., Oreg., S.Dak., Wash., Wyo.

Variety gramineus is most easily distinguished from var. venenosus by its paniculate inflorescence, although some individuals in each population are racemose. It occurs well inland, east of the Cascade and Rocky mountains and at high elevations within those ranges.