Plants glabrous or sparsely to densely pilose, at least proximally. Stems (2-)3-12 (-15) dm. Basal leaves soon withered. Cauline leaves: (proximal and median) petiole 1-6 cm, shorter distally; blade oblanceolate to obovate, (2-)3-12(-17) cm × (15-)25-60(-85) mm, (smaller distally), base auriculate to amplexicaul, margins pinnatifid to runcinate, lobes: lateral ovate to lanceolate; terminal larger than lateral. Racemes densely flowered. Fruiting pedicels straight or slightly curved-ascending, 5-10(-14) mm, glabrous or pubescent. Flowers: sepals 4-5 × 1-1.5 mm, sparsely pilose; petals 6-10 × 1.5-2.5 mm, gradually narrowed to clawlike base, margins entire, glabrous; median filament pairs 2.5-4 mm, glabrous; anthers 1-1.5 mm. Fruits 2-4.2(-5.3) cm × 0.5-0.7 mm; valves glabrous or pilose; style 0.5-2.5 mm. Seeds yellowish, 0.4-0.5 × 0.3-0.4 mm.

Flowering Mar-Nov. Hillsides, shallow washes, calcareous grounds, thickets, scrubby pine and oak woodland, gravelly flats; 1200-2400 m; Tex.; Mexico (Chihuahua, Coahuila, Durango, Nuevo León, San Luis Potosí, Zacatecas).

Collections of Coelophragmus auriculatus from Texas are known primarily from Brewster and Hudspeth counties.