Stems 3.5-12 cm. Basal leaves 1-2×-ternately compound, 2.5-10 cm, not much shorter than stems; leaflets to 3-12 mm, not viscid, glaucous on both sides; primary petiolules 1-10 mm (leaflets very crowded), pilose. Flowers usually erect; sepals divergent from floral axis, blue or purple, oblong-elliptic, 15-22 × 6-10 mm, apex acute to obtuse; petals: spurs blue, straight, ± parallel, 8-15 mm, stout (at least proximally), evenly tapered from base, blades blue, oblong to spatulate, 8-13 × 5-6 mm; stamens 9-14 mm. Follicles 14-22 mm; beak 8-12 mm. 2 n = 14.

Flowering summer (Jun-Jul). Rocky places in limestone areas, usually subalpine; 1800-3400 m; Alta.; Mont., Wyo.