elegant Jacob's-ladder

Appearance

General: Low perennial from a branched base and taproot, strongly glandular and smelling of skunk, the stems to 1.5 dm. tall.
Leaves: Leaves alternate, pinnate, chiefly basal, with short petioles; leaflets numerous, crowded and overlapping, entire, 2.5-6 mm. long and 1-3.5 mm. wide.
Flowers: Inflorescence compact, several-flowered; calyx herbaceous, 5.5-8.5 mm. long, the 5 pointed lobes about equaling the tube; corolla blue, funnel-shaped, 12-15 mm. long and half a wide, the 5 lobes shorter than the tube; style 3-parted; ovary superior.
Fruits: Capsule 3-celled.

Distribution

Occurring in the Olympics and Cascades mountains in Washington; British Columbia south to Washington.

Habitat

Open, often rocky areas, mid- to high elevations in the mountains.