Annuals; glabrous or sparsely (or densely) pilose basally. Stems erect, unbranched or branched distally, (hollow, strongly inflated, fusiform, to 4 cm diam. at widest point), 1.5-9.7 dm. Basal leaves rosulate; petiole 0.5-5 cm; blade obovate to oblanceolate, 1-13 cm × 5-60 mm, margins entire or dentate-sinuate. Cauline leaves (distalmost) sessile; blade ovate to lanceolate, 1-20 cm × 5-70 mm (base amplexicaul), margins entire. Racemes (densely flowered), without a terminal cluster of sterile flowers. Fruiting pedicels ascending to divaricate, 3-12 mm, sparsely to densely pilose, or glabrous. Flowers: sepals erect, (dark purple at least apically, whitish basally), narrowly ovate to lanceolate or oblong-lanceolate, 5.5-14 × 2-3 mm (unequal, adaxial one slightly smaller or narrower, keeled); petals purple, 9-14 mm, blade 3-4 × 1.5-2 mm, crisped, claw oblanceolate to oblong, 6-10 × 1.5-3 mm; filaments in 3 unequal pairs, (median pairs connate), abaxial pair 4-8 mm, lateral pair 3-5 mm, adaxial pair 7-10 mm; anthers narrowly oblong, equal, 2-4 mm. Fruits erect to ascending, terete, 3.5-12.7 cm × 2-3 mm; valves each with prominent midvein; ovules 58-82 per ovary; style obsolete or, rarely, to 0.4 mm; stigma strongly 2-lobed (lobes opposite valves). Seeds 1.5-3 × 0.7-1.7 mm. 2n = 28.

Flowering Feb-Jun. Desert plains, dry hillsides; 150-1500 m; Calif.

Caulanthus inflatus is found in central and southern California.