UW Burke Herbarium species comparison

Basal leaves single, trifoliate, the leaflets once or twice shallowly lobed and remotely serrate; the flowering stem naked except for a whorl of 3 leaves near the top, these trifoliate, petiolate, the leaflets up to 8 cm. long, the lateral pair deeply lobed, all remotely toothed.

Basal leaves numerous, the blades 3-10 cm. broad, divided into 3 or 5 sections and cleft 2-3 times, the ultimate segments 2+ mm. broad; the flowering stem naked except for a whorl of 3 leaves near the midpoint, these similar to but smaller than the basal leaves.

Flowers single;

sepals usually 5, ovate-oblong, 12-20 mm. long, usually blue to blue-violet, but occasionally white or pinkish;

petals none;

stamens 35-100;

pistils numerous.

Flowers usually 2 or 3;

sepals 5-9, oblong-elliptic, 7-15 mm. long, yellowish and tinged with red, blue or purple, especially on the outer surface;

petals none;

stamens and pistils numerous.

Achenes narrowly oblong, 4 mm. long, finely pubescent;

style 0.5 mm. long, glabrous.

Achenes in a globose cluster, silky-woolly with hairs 3-8 mm. long;

styles stout, 1-1.5 mm. long, reddish