It is endemic to New Mexico in the United States, where it is known only from San Juan County.

[1] This perennial herb grows up to 30 centimeters tall, with several erect stems.

[2] This plant is limited to the Nacimiento Formation, where it grows in salt desert scrub vegetation communities.

[2] There are over 100 occurrences, and the plant can be locally abundant, but in general it is rare.

[1][2] During development, a petroleum company removed some plants and kept them in a greenhouse, transplanting them back into the habitat when it moved out of the area.