It is known from many habitat types in several regions from the Central Valley to the Mojave Desert to the Peninsular Ranges.

[1] It is a tough, hairy perennial herb spreading as a clumpy mat or sometimes growing erect to approach a meter in height.

Its slender branches are lined with small leaves each made up usually three leaflets.

The inflorescence is generally 1 to 3 solid or red-veined yellow flowers between 1 and 2 centimeters long.

The fruit is a legume pod just over a centimeter long containing 2 or 3 beanlike seeds.