A boreal species of North America, ranging from New England to the Yukon, very local in Michigan. Locally frequent in rock crevices along the north shore of Lake Superior in Ontario, thence inland northward. Very rare on rocky shores of Lake Superior in Keweenaw Co.; otherwise, known only from marly fens and associated open tamarack-cedar swamps in Mackinac Co.

This is an attractive, delicate-looking plant with white or pinkish rays, the color perhaps depending in part on the age of the flowers.