Stems 3-12 cm, cespitose, not rhizomatous; roots tuberous. Leaves abaxially glabrous; leaflets entire or deeply 2-3-lobed, apex rounded, glandular-apiculate. Inflorescences axillary, flowers solitary; peduncle strongly clavate. Flowers: sepals 3.5-6 × 1.4-2.5 mm; stamens 8-15; filaments flat, narrowly triangular, 1.9-3.2 mm. Follicles stipitate, upright and appressed; body oblong, 4-8(-9) mm, abruptly contracted into style beak; beak 0.5-1.5 mm. Seeds 0.9-1.4(-1.7) mm, glabrous.

Flowering late winter-early spring. Shaded shrubby areas, oak woodlands, and moist deciduous or mixed evergreen forests, occasionally in open pastures; 200-1500 m; Calif., Oreg.