Alpine tundra, at 3 km level. The whole plant is just 3-4 cm high and looks like Gentiana. But I could not find such a hairy Gentiana or its relatives. Any idea where to look?
Looked through a cultivated plant database - the only one coming up that begins to match this plant is Salvia. (blue flower, opposite leaf). The inflorescence leaf arrangement may be distinct from the basal leaf arrangement though...do you recall? Are these flowers fully open? If so, is probably not Salvia. Try http://www.wildflower.org/
Thanks, Susan! However, it hardly could be Salvia. The first picture shows the complete plant, just 3.5 cm as it is seen against the ruler paper. No basal leaves and at least one of the flowers on the top looks completely open and, as far as I can stretch my imagination, it has four petals.
Re: Hippy Gentiana? Nop! It is Veronica. Thanks, David! This is Veronica wormskjoldii (V.nutans), indeed. It matches up to the brownish point of the leaves.
