Short-lived perennial from a simple caudex. Stems 5–40 cm, rarely branched. Basal leaves oblanceolate, 5–30 mm long, usually entire. Stem leaves several, lanceolate, sessile. Vestiture of simple, branched and stellate hairs, dense below, less so above. Petals yellow, 4–6 mm long. Fruit erect to ascending, 8–15 × 2–4 mm, pubescent, often twisted; style 0.5–1 mm long; lower pedicels 3–6 mm long (
Lesica et al. 2012. Manual of Montana Vascular Plants. BRIT Press. Fort Worth, TX).
Sparsely vegetated, rocky soil of grasslands, open forests; montane to alpine (
Lesica et al. 2012. Manual of Montana Vascular Plants. BRIT Press. Fort Worth, TX).