The plant is a petite biennial herb growing 2 to 4 centimeters tall from the top of its taproot.

It requires open spaces with sunlight and tolerates disturbance, and it resprouts readily after wildfire has affected the habitat.

The long-term practice of fire suppression in the region has allowed the plant's habitat to become overgrown with large and woody vegetation.

Habitat conservation must involve periodic prescribed burns or another method of opening the overgrown canopy.

[1] Another main threat to the species is the outright destruction of its habitat for the construction of residential and commercial real estate.