Plants 0.3-1.3 dm, often with 1-4 ascending branches shorter than main axis; hypocotyl 1-2 cm. Stems 5-15-noded. Leaf blades 0.4-0.7 × 0.2-0.3 cm. Cymes 1-5-branched, 2-12-flowered, sometimes flowers solitary, 1-4 cm. Flowers 2-3 mm diam.; calyx base thickened for 1 mm; petals ascending, later appressed to utricles, pale greenish yellow or with dorsal red streak, ovate-lanceolate, 1.5-2 × 0.5-0.6 mm, apex acute; stamens 5; pistils 1 mm, adaxially stipitate-glandular; styles erect, 0.2-0.4 mm. Utricles erect and appressed, 1.2-1.5 mm. Seeds 0.7-0.9 mm. 2n = 18. Flowering spring. Thin soil on slate, shale, sandstone, or serpentine; 300-700 m; Calif. M. W. Skinner and B. M. Pavlik (1994) considered Sedella pentandra for listing as rare in California but rejected it as too common.