Shrubs, erect, to 2 m. Stems densely stellate-hairy to glabrate, hairs simple, fasciculate, and/or stellate, sometimes minutely stellate, not appressed. Leaves: petiole (0.4–)2–3.5 cm; blade broadly ovate to ovate-lanceolate, slightly 3–5-lobed, 2.5–11 × (1.5–)2.5–7.5 cm, noticeably reduced in size distally on stem, base truncate to slightly cordate, margins dentate-serrate, apex acute to attenuate, 5–7-veined from base, surfaces: abaxial densely to sparingly hairy, hairs simple, bifurcate, and/or stellate, not appressed, adaxial sparingly hairy to glabrescent, hairs simple, bifurcate, and/or stellate, not appressed. Cymes axillary or terminal, not borne on short shoots (brachyblasts), 3–5-flowered; peduncle 10–20 mm. Pedicels 5–10 mm. Flowers: sepals caducous, not present in young fruit, reflexed at anthesis, narrowly ovate-lanceolate, 3–3.5 mm, sparingly stellate-hairy abaxially; petal claws 2–2.5 mm, lamina ± rhombic, 1 × 1–1.5 mm, base deeply lobed, lobes oblong, margins erose, apex entire, glabrous, abaxial appendage absent; androgynophore 0.5–1 mm; stamen filaments absent; stigmas slightly exserted. Capsules oblate to subspheric, 6 × 7 mm, densely short stellate-pubescent, prickles 0.5–1 mm. Seeds 4 mm, tuberculate.

Flowering and fruiting late summer–early winter. Rocky slopes, canyon bottoms, desert grasslands; 1100–1200 m; Ariz.; Mexico (Baja California, Baja California Sur, Chihuahua, Sinaloa, Sonora).