Until then it was known only from one 8-acre (32,000 m2) ranch in Humboldt County, where sheep ranchers blamed the unnamed species for the deaths of their animals, which may have eaten it.

A few individuals were found growing in a recently bulldozed clearing, their long-buried seeds having been plowed into favorable conditions for germination.

The plants were brought under the protection of the landowners, the same family that was responsible for its near-extinction and had changed their minds about its value.

The coarse reddish stem is slightly hairy toward the ends, growing 30 to 90 centimeters long.

The fruit is a bent legume capsule 1 to 1.5 centimeters long which dries to a papery texture.