This weedy perennial plant, commonly found along roadways, usually grows erect up to about 3 feet tall. It has bright blue flowers, about 2 inches across when open (A). Leaves and bracts (just below the flower) have glandular hairs on their edges with bright red glands (B). Hairs are also found along stems and along the main nerve on the underside of the leaves (C).
This plant was first noticed, identified and photographed on Cottonwood Trail on the Fontenelle Forest flood plain in August 2013. It competed with other post-flood (2011) weedy species to grow much taller than normal, as did most of the other weeds there. One tall plant was found just off the trail. Abundance will depend on reproduction of this one plant or on others migrating in.
The seeds are in the form of nuts (not yet shown); they reportedly can be eaten like nuts. Deer are known to browse the leaves.
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