It is endemic to California, where its two uncommon subspecies grow in mountainous habitats separated by several hundred miles.

The similarly rare subspecies valida is known from only four occurrences in the Transverse Ranges.

The plant produces a hairy, glandular purple stem up to about 35 centimeters tall.

[1] As a parasite taking its nutrients from a host plant, it lacks leaves and chlorophyll.

The inflorescence is a small cluster of tubular purple flowers 1 to 2 centimeters long.