It is native to the western United States from California to Idaho, where it grows in several habitat types, including desert and sagebrush.

It is a roughly hairy annual herb growing in a low patch on the ground, generally with no stem.

The leaves are widely lance-shaped and up to about 5 centimeters long, with a few small teeth along the edges.

The nodding inflorescence produces flowers with yellow petals only 2 or 3 millimeters long each and a noticeable bulbous stigma tip which may be up to a centimeter wide.

The fruit is a leathery capsule around half a centimeter long with small wings near the tip.