Shrubs, forming dense thickets, ˂xerophytic˃; rhizomatous. Stems erect, rarely arching, 2.5–12(–15) dm; distal branches densely pubescent or glabrous, with or without stellate hairs; prickles erect, rarely curved, infrastipular prickles present, mixed with internodal prickles and aciculi. Leaves deciduous, 1.5–3 × 1.5–2.5 cm; stipule margins entire or dentate, glandular or eglandular, auricles flared; leaflets 3–7, terminal: petiolule 0.5–4 mm, blade oval, suborbiculate, obovate, or deltate, 6–18 × 4–13 mm, abaxial surfaces usually pubescent or tomentulose, rarely glabrous. Inflorescences 1(–3)-flowered. Pedicels erect, stout, 2–16 mm, mostly setose, often pubescent, rarely glabrous; bracts 0 or 1 or 2, margins serrate to deeply incised. Flowers 2.5–5 cm; hypanthium thick-walled, setose or not; sepals ovate-lanceolate, 8–20 × (1–)2–5 mm, margins pinnatifid, abaxial surfaces glabrous or pubescent, sessile- or stipitate-glandular, sometimes eglandular; petals single, pink to rose pink, sometimes white; carpels 10–110, styles free, stylar orifice 2–5 mm diam., rims 0.5–1 mm wide, hypanthial disc absent. Hips dull red to dark reddish purple, subglobose or cupulate, 5–13(–18) × 5–16(–18) mm, hard, leathery, pubescent or glabrous, setose, stipitate-glandular or eglandular; sepals persistent, erect. Achenes basal.

Species 2 (2 in the flora): sw, sc United States, nw Mexico.