Aerial shoots (10-)20-40 cm. Basal leaves villous. Inflorescences (1-)2-3-flowered cymes; peduncle villous; involucral bracts 1-2-tiered, villous. Flowers: sepals 5, abaxially red, purple, or blue, adaxially white or yellow, elliptic, 6-10 mm. Achenes: beak ±straight. 2 n =32.

Flowering summer (Jun-Aug). Rocky slopes, meadows; of conservation concern; 1300-4200 m; Alta., B.C., N.W.T.; Alaska, Colo., Idaho, Mont., Nev., Oreg., Utah, Wash., Wyo.