Stems erect, solitary or few, up to 3 feet tall, hairy toward base, smooth above, glaucous (covered with a waxy coating); leaves narrow, leathery, margins smooth; flowers on open clusters, strongly 2-lipped, with reddish-purple nectar guides (lines).
Grayish-green foliage; stems solitary to few, hairy below; leaves leathery, mostly lance-like; flowers light purple, spaced sparsely on stems, strongly 2-lipped, opening about 1/2 inch, with reddish-purple nectar guides and hairs, sterile stamen hairy.
Habitat
Rocky, mountainous or hilly places, basaltic soils (dark, igneous rock formed from rapid cooling of lava) in pinyon-juniper woodlands.
Flower Characteristics
Flowers in an open cluster, on spreading stalks up to 1 inch long; light purple; calyx lobes rounded; corolla light purple, 3/4 to 1-1/4 inches long, 1/2 inch wide at throat, gradually to abruptly inflated hairy at opening; stamen sterile, hairy.
Leaf and Stem Characteristics
Stems erect, solitary or few; leaves narrow and leathery, margins smooth, 1 to 2-3/4 inches long, with pointed tip; leaves without stems (petioles) and somewhat clasping, basal leaves with stem.
Fruit and Seed Characteristics
2-celled capsule with numerous, angled seeds.