Plants forming small to extremely large colonies, caulescent or short-procumbent. Stems short-pro-cumbent, 0.1-0.4 m, 2-3.5 m with peduncle and inflorescence. Leaf blade plano-convex or plano-keeled, 45-80(-150) × 1.2-2 cm, stiff but somewhat flexible, smooth abaxially, slightly roughened adaxially. Inflorescences racemose, 10-20 dm; peduncle 1-1.5 m. Flowers 5.5-6.5 × 2.3-4 cm; tepals often tinged pink or brown, elliptic to orbiculate; filaments 2.5-2.8 cm; anthers 5-6 mm; pistil oblong-cylindric, 3-3.5 × 0.7-0.9 cm; style 5-8 mm. Capsules moderately constricted, 6.5-7.5 cm.

Flowering spring--early summer. Sandy places of juniper - pinyon pine - oak woodlands, desert canyon hillsides; 1400--1900 m; Ariz., Utah.