Basal leaf in above photo

Stem leaf in above photo

Basal leaves have emerged and inflorescence has elongated when flowering is complete

Grey-coloured,  perennial plants covered with silky hairs. Flowers are in a dense spike, violet in colour, with gold anthers. Flower spikes measured to 3 cm long, elongating when in fruit. Flowers have no petals.  Basal leaves ovate to deltoid, blade measured at 6 cm long and 5.5 cm wide. Stem leaves without stalks, elliptical to rhomboid in shape. Basal leaves have toothed margins, stem leaves entire.

Very early flowering, as early as mid-April. Flower spikes emerge before basal leaves.

Habitat is rocky slopes and fescue prairie in the Cypress Hills. We've found them usually growing on east-facing slopes.

Budd's Flora lists the height to 30 cm, we measured plants to 13 cm tall.

Very rare, this plant is listed as an S1 by the Saskatchewan Conservation Data Centre.

Photos taken April 16th and May 23rd on fescue prairie hillside ~ 3900 ft elevation, and May 23rd, rocky hillside ~ 4200 ft elevation, Cypress Hills, 450 km southwest of our home in Regina, SK.

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