It is endemic to central California, where it grows in grassy habitat in coastal and inland mountain ranges and foothills.

It is a petite aromatic annual herb growing decumbent or upright, often reaching no more than a centimeter in height even when erect in form, sometimes larger.

The inflorescence is a series of rounded, headlike clusters, with occasional single flowers emerging at leaf axils.

The tiny tubular flower is 2 to 5 millimeters long and has a lobed, lipped mouth.

It is lavender in color, sometimes with faint white markings in the mouth.