Perennials; (caudex simple or few-branched); (glaucous), usually glabrous, (petioles of basal leaves pubescent, sometimes sepals). Stems un-branched or branched, (1-)3-9(-11) dm. Basal leaves rosulate; petiolate (petioles broadly winged, setose-ciliate); blade usually spatulate to obovate, rarely narrowly oblanceolate, 1.5-8(-11) cm, margins dentate (at least distally). Cauline leaves: blade broadly oblong to ovate, suborbicular, or lanceolate, 2-9 cm × 7-45(-60) mm, (smaller distally), base auriculate to amplexicaul, margins entire or toothed, (apex rounded, obtuse, or acuminate to acute). Racemes ebracteate, (lax). Fruiting pedicels divaricate-ascending, (straight), 3-11(-14) mm. Flowers: calyx campanulate; sepals greenish brown to purple, (broadly oblong), 5-12 mm, (lateral pair subsaccate basally), not keeled, (glabrous or subapically bristly); petals purple to brownish, (claw purplish), 9-15 mm, blade 2-6 × 0.7-1 mm, (recurved or not), margins not crisped, claw 7-10 mm, wider than blade; stamens in 3 unequal pairs; filaments (distinct): abaxial pair 5-7 mm, lateral pair 4-5 mm, adaxial pair 7.5-10 mm; anthers (all) fertile, 2.5-5 mm; gynophore 0.5-1.5 mm. Fruits ascending to divaricate-ascending, smooth, straight, flattened, 5-10.5(-14.5) cm × (2.5-)3-6(-7) mm; valves each with prominent midvein; replum straight; ovules 20-38(-46) per ovary; style 0.2-3 mm; stigma subentire to strongly 2-lobed. Seeds broadly oblong to suborbicular, 2.5-5 × 2.2-5 mm; wing 0.1-0.9 mm wide, continuous.

Plant: Perennial 2-10 dm, generally simple, glabrous Leaves: basal widely obovate, toothed above middle, teeth often bristly, petioles = leaves, often ciliate; cauline few-toothed to entire, generally acute INFLORESCENCE: racemes, generally ± open; bracts generally 0 Flowers: bisexual; calyx biradial, sepals 4, free, 8-13 mm, yellowish green in bud becoming purple in flower, tips generally bristly; petals exserted, 10-14 mm, linear, purple; stamens free, equal; stigma 2-lobed Fruit: capsule with 2 deciduous valves, long, ascending to ± erect, 5-10 cm, 2.5-6 mm wide, straight; generally strongly compressed parallel to septum; Seeds generally compressed, generally ± winged Misc: Rocky or sandy sagebrush scrub, pinyon/juniper woodland, ponderosa-pine forest; 1200-3100 m.