7a. ssp. bracteata (Benth.) Epling

S. ovata var. bracteata (Benth.) S.F. Blake

S. ovata ssp. versicolor (Nutt.) Epling, misapplied

Plants relatively robust, the stems mostly 30–80 cm long. Leaf blades mostly 3–7 cm long, not appearing strongly puckered, the veins slightly to moderately impressed on the upper surface, slightly to moderately raised on the undersurface. Inflorescences witrh the bracts extending past the calyces of the flowers they subtend, occasionally even longer than the flowers. Corollas with the lower lip blue to bluish purple, usually with white and purple mottling and/or spots. 2n=20. May–October.

Scattered nearly throughout the state, but uncommon in the western portion of the Glaciated Plains Division and the Mississippi Lowlands (Kansas to Texas east to North Carolina and Florida). Mesic to dry upland forests, glades, banks of streams and rivers, and bases, ledges, and tops of bluffs; also old fields and roadsides.

Pittman (1988) studied typification in the group and concluded that the names S. ovata and S. versicolor Nutt. both represent the same taxon. The name S. ovata var. versicolor thus becomes a synonym of S. ovata and the next-oldest available epithet is S. ovata ssp. bracteata.