Taprooted perennial herbs. Stems erect 35–60 cm, mostly glabrous with swollen nodes. Leaf blades ovate-lanceolate, glabrous, 4–8 cm long. Inflorescence terminal and axillary, openly cymose with umbellate clusters at branch tips; involucres 3-flowered, the bracts 5–10 mm long, light green, veiny. Flowers pink, ca. 4 mm long. Fruits pubescent, 4–6 mm long, 5-ribbed and warty (
Lesica et al. 2012. Manual of Montana Vascular Plants. BRIT Press. Fort Worth, TX).