Caudices 1-1.5 cm diam. Leaf blades 3-9 × 0.5-1.5 cm, 1.5-3 mm thick. Inflorescences: floral shoots red, 5-10-leaved, 5-20 × 0.2-0.4 cm; cincinni 2-9-flowered, 1-4 cm. Pedicels 5-10 mm. Flowers: sepals 2.5-6 mm; petals bright yellow, red-tinged, 9-12 mm. 2n = 136, 170.

Flowering spring. Cliffs, rocky slopes; 1100-2200 m; Calif.

Subspecies saxosa is known from the Panamint Mountains; this well-isolated polyploid subspecies differs from the other subspecies mainly in its smaller size.