Plants 10-20(-40) cm, herbage villoso-tomentose, glabrate, or glabrous. Corollas (at least lobes) usually yellow-orange (sometimes red-tinged), 2.2-3 mm. 2n = 18, 36.

Flowering mid-late summer. Open meadows, usually on well-drained soils; 0-3500 m; Alta., B.C., N.W.T., Nunavut, Sask., Yukon; Alaska, Calif., Colo., Idaho, Mont., Utah, Wash., Wyo.; Eurasia.

Subspecies borealis is widespread in the mountains of western North America. Some high-elevation populations have corollas tinged with red.