It is endemic to the Sierra Nevada foothills of California, where it grows in wet, grassy habitat such as marshy spring meadows.

This is an annual herb producing a spreading stem up to about 40 centimeters long.

The leaves are made up of several linear to oval-shaped lobed or unlobed leaflets.

The bell-shaped flower has white petals often veined with purple and tinted yellow at the bases.

The Latin specific epithet montana refers to mountains or coming from mountains.