Perennials; (compact); caudex usually simple, (cespitose); (silvery) pubescent throughout, trichomes 6-8-rayed, rays furcate near base, fused at base, (umbonate, strongly tuberculate throughout). Stems several from base, decumbent, (unbranched, slender), 0.5-1 dm. Basal leaves (strongly rosulate); blade usually oblanceolate or broader, sometimes triangular, 2-3.5 cm (width 5-10 mm), margins entire or with 1 or 2 broad teeth, (apex acute). Cauline leaves: blade oblanceolate, 1-1.5 cm (width 2-4 mm), margins entire, (apex acute). Racemes congested, (elongated moderately in fruit). Fruiting pedicels (spreading, straight or somewhat sigmoid), 5-8 mm. Flowers: sepals linear, 5-7 mm; petals spatulate, 8-10 mm, (apex often somewhat truncate). Fruits (erect), didymous, suborbicular, inflated, 2-5(-8) × 4-8(-10)mm, (coriaceous, base slightly cordate or nearly obtuse, sinus obsolete or absent, apical sinus broad and deep); valves (retaining seeds after dehiscence), pubescent, trichomes appressed, (silvery on ovaries and immature fruit; replum obovate to oblong, as wide as or wider than fruit, rarely somewhat constricted basally, apex obtuse; ovules 4 per ovary; style 5-7 mm. Seeds slightly flattened. 2n = 8.

Flowering May-Jun. Sagebrush, granitic talus, open knolls, limestone chiprock, steep slopes, clay banks, near granite boulders; 2300-2500(-3900) m; Colo.