These are small herbaceous plants which bear tiny white or yellow flowers.

Of the approximately 65 species described, more than 15 are endemic to California.

The inflorescence is coiled in bud, but generally elongates in fruit.

The pedicels are generally 0–1 mm, and the flower is bisexual with the sepals fused below the middle.

[4] The genus name, Plagiobothrys, is derived from Greek to mean "sideways pit" and describes the position of nutlet attachment scar.