General: Perennial, 2-12 cm tall, acaulescent; taproot caudex- like, terminating abruptly, with slender rhizomes developing near the summit.

Leaves: Basal (forming a rosette), simple, oblong to oblanceolate, 1.5-5 cm long, somewhat fleshy, glabrous with strigose or ciliate margins or sparsely spreading- hairy above, margins entire; petiole 0.5-2.5 cm long.

Flowers: Inflorescence mostly 2-flowered, open; peduncles and pedicels glandular-pubescent, the hairs often with purple or reddish gland tips; pedicels 1-3.3 cm long; sepals ovate, 6-10 mm long, pubescent, awn-tipped, the awn 1-2 mm long; petals broadly oblanceolate to obovate, 10-18 mm long, white, sometimes tinged with pink, or pinkish with purple veins; style column 2-2.5 cm long, glandular- pubescent; flowers April-October.

Fruits: Loculicidal capsule, ovoid, 5-9 mm long; seeds numerous.

Ecology: Meadows, open slopes, pine forests, moist soils; 1800- 2300 m (6000-7500 ft); Apache and Coconino counties; western and southwestern U.S.

Notes: Only species of this genus in Arizona.

Editor: Springer et al. 2008