This plant is endemic to Inyo County, California, where it is known only from the mountain ranges surrounding Death Valley.

It is an uncommon, distinctive perennial herb which grows in scattered patches on rocky limestone soils in these desert mountains.

It forms a basal clump of woolly leaves up to seven centimeters long and bolts an erect, naked stem.

It is brittle and breaks into hollow, thin segments which are said to resemble napkin rings, hence its common name, the napkinring buckwheat.

The clusters are densely packed with tiny yellow or red flowers.