Herbs, erect to spreading or prostrate, not scapose, 0.08-0.2 × 0.1-0.25 dm, glabrous, usually grayish. Stems spreading, with persistent leaf bases, up to 1/ 5 height of plant; caudex stems matted; aerial flowering stems erect to slightly spreading or prostrate, slender, solid, not fistulose, 0.4-0.8 dm, glabrous.  Leaves basal, 1 per node; petiole 0.3-1(-2.5) cm, tomentose; blade round-ovate, 0.3-0.5(-1) × 0.3-0.5(-1) cm, densely white-tomentose abaxially, floccose or glabrous and green adaxially, margins plane. Inflorescences cymose, 0.5-1.5 × 1-2 cm; branches dichotomous, glabrous; bracts 3, scalelike, 1-2 mm. Peduncles absent. Involucres 1 per node, campanulate, 2-2.5 × 2-2.5 mm, glabrous; teeth 5, erect, 0.5-0.8 mm. Flowers 2-3 mm; perianth white, glabrous; tepals connate proximal 1/ 4, monomorphic, oblong; stamens exserted, 2.5-3 mm; filaments sparsely pubescent proximally. Achenes light brown, 2.5-3 mm, glabrous.

Eriogonum apricum appears to be more akin to the Pacific Coast E. nudum complex than to the E. brevicaule complex of the Rocky Mountain West. The plants are sometimes infected by Coniothrium eriogoni Earle, a rust fungus that also attacks E. nudum.

Varieties 2 (2 in the flora): California.