Plants acaulescent; rosettes from branching, horizontal, subterranean caudices from lignotubers. Leaf blades 30-150 cm × 12-35 mm, glaucous; bases 15-70 mm wide; margins serrulate. Scape 0.7-9 dm, 5-18 mm diam. Inflorescences compound paniculate, branched distally, 5-11 dm × 10-50 cm; bracts persistent, 2-15 cm; bractlets laciniate. Flowers: tepals 2-3.5 mm; fertile stamens: anthers 1.1-1.7 mm; pedicel erect, proximal to joint 1-2(-4.5) mm, distal to joint 1-2 mm. Capsules thin-walled, 7-12 × 9-15 mm, notched basally and apically. Seeds bursting ovary walls, 4-6 × 3-4 mm.

Flowering early spring--early summer. Rocky hillsides of chaparral; of conservation concern; 200--700 m; Calif.; Mexico (Baja California).

Nolina interrata is very rare and is listed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as rare and endangered. Its habitat is threatened by development.