Plants to 3 dm; roots elongate, woody. Stems erect to ascending, simple or branching, bearing ± persistent, straight, spinelike, 5 mm or more, proximal portions of midribs of old leaves, suffrutescent. Leaves petiolate; blade subterete, to 2.5 cm, base attenuate. Inflorescences cymose, overtopping leaves; peduncle scapelike, to 20 cm. Flowers: sepals deciduous, orbiculate to ovate, to 3 mm; petals pale to bright rose or purplish red, elliptic to obovate, to 10 mm; stamens 20-30; stigma 1, subcapitate. Capsules ovoid-globose, 5 mm. Seeds without arcuate ridges, 1.2 mm.

Flowering May-Jul. Cliffs, ledges, and outcrops in basaltic soils; 700-1100 m; Oreg., Wash.