It is native to western North America from Alaska to Montana to California, where it grows in rocky mountain habitat types, especially in alpine climates, such as talus and fellfields.

It is a small perennial herb growing in mats of creeping stems lined with thick, fleshy leaves each up to 1.5 centimeters long.

The inflorescence arises on a stout, erect peduncle with a few stubby bracts midway up.

At the time, Dr. Tolmie was a 21-year old employee of the Hudson's Bay Company.

He discovered M. tolmiei while climbing Mount Rainier in present-day Washington state.