[1][2] This perennial herb grows 10 to 30 centimeters tall from a caudex covered in the withered remains of previous seasons' leaves.

The leaves are divided into a few pairs of lance-shaped or oval leaflets up to 1.2 centimeters wide.

The habitat is pinyon-juniper woodland, desert scrub, and other types of plant communities.

[2] There are an estimated 12 to 17 occurrences of this plant, but some are based on historical collections which might not be extant.

Some are officially protected within national park and national monument territory, but still face threats from people engaging in recreational activity such as hiking; the plants do not tolerate disturbance and are easily uprooted.