[3] It is native to the western United States, where its range includes California, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, and Utah.

[3] It grows on hills and in valleys[4] in barren sandy and volcanic soils[5] in habitat such as sagebrush.

[6] This perennial herb produces several prostrate stems up to 40 centimeters long.

The compound leaves are made up of 9 to 21 rounded or teardrop-shaped leaflets each up to 1.8 centimeters long.

The fruit is a legume pod up to 4 centimeters long, becoming dark, mottled, and papery to leathery with age.