[1][2][3] It is a rare annual herb producing a bristly stem up to about 25 centimeters tall studded with black resin glands.

[9] It is only found in the narrow geographical range of Lake, Shasta, Tehama, and Trinity counties of California's Klamath Mountain Ecoregion.

[11] Plate tectonics and erosion over time work to produce these unique soil environments that are characterized by high levels of magnesium and iron silicate materials.

In addition, they feature low levels of important plant nutrients, including nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and calcium.

Furthermore, such an extreme environment facilitates the high rate of endemism found, as few species are able to dominate a serpentine plant community.