Erect, to 1 m, simple or branched above; lvs ovate to rhombic-ovate or deltoid-ovate, the larger to 9 cm, coarsely serrate, broadly obtuse to truncate at base, whitened beneath, with a very fine close pubescence, the hairs scarcely discernible at 10 petioles rarely to 1.5 cm, even on the largest lvs; spikes cylindric, to 15 cm, 2-2.5 cm thick, commonly interrupted at base; bracts broadly ovate, acuminate; cal puberulent at anthesis, 5-7 mm, its lobes blue, lance-triangular, 1.5-2 mm; cor blue, nearly 1 cm; 2n=18. Dry upland woods and prairies; Wis. to n. Io. and Man., s. to Colo. and Alta., and occasionally e. (probably only intr.) to Que. July, Aug. (A. anethiodora)
Gleason, Henry A. & Cronquist, Arthur J. 1991. Manual of vascular plants of northeastern United States and adjacent Canada. lxxv + 910 pp.