[1] The plant is native to the mountains of the West Coast of the United States below 1,800 metres (5,900 ft) in elevation, from Washington to the Bay Area in California.

[2] Pityopus californicus, a perennial herb, is a mycoheterotroph, parasitizing fungi for nutrients.

[3] It produces a fleshy stemless peduncle above the leaf litter of the forest floor, reaching no more than 10 centimeters tall.

The above ground portion of the plant is essentially just inflorescence, with 2 to 11 cylindrical white flowers blooming for a short time.

The mature plant has a scent reminiscent of Brie cheese, which may serve to attract pollinators.