There are two varieties of this plant, one federally listed as an endangered species of the United States, and the other listed threatened.

This plant is a subshrub growing erect to a maximum height around 60 centimeters.

leiopoda is known from a single population containing no more than 325 individuals, including immature plants and seedlings.

[3] The two varieties are distinguished mainly by the amount of hairs they have, and by geography.

These varieties are sometimes combined so that the plants are considered all one species without subtaxa.