Taproots gradually ramified distally. Stems semiprostrate to suberect, 3-8 cm. Leaves: basal leaves withering at or immediately following anthesis, ± sessile or tapered to broad petiole, blade oblanceolate, ± flattened, 3-8 cm, margins entire, apex acute to obtuse; cauline leaves absent. Inflorescences: flowers borne singly on peduncles; bracts 2, ovate to broadly lanceolate, 5-7 mm, margins entire, apex acute to acuminate. Flowers sessile, not disarticulate in fruit; sepals 2, decussate with bracts, ovate, 4-9 mm, herbaceous, margins entire, not glandular, apex acute; petals 5-9, white, sometimes with pink veins, or pinkish, obovate, 12-26 mm; stamens 9-15; stigmas 5-8. Capsules 6-9 mm. Seeds 40-50, 1.5 mm, shiny. 2n = 20. Flowering late spring-early summer. Montane meadows in sandy soil; 1300-2400 m; Ariz., Calif., Utah; Mexico (Baja California). As B. Mathew (1989b) noted, plants attributed to New Mexico probably were collected in Arizona.

TAPROOT: 1.2-9.8 cm long. STEMS: prostrate to sub-erect, 0.5-4.6 cm tall. LEAVES: persistant, sessile, oblanceolate, 1.5-8.2 cm long, 0.1-1.2 cm wide; base truncate; apex rounded at tip. INFLORESCENCE: bracts sepal-like, closely subtending the flowers. CAPSULE: 6-9 mm long. SEEDS: 1-1.8 mm long. NOTES: Sandy loam/sandstone slopes in conifer forests, often in streambeds: Apache, Coconino, Gila, Navajo, Yavapai cos.; 1100-2300 m (3,400-7,500 ft); Mar-Jun; CA, UT; Mex. REFERENCES: Allison Bair, Marissa Howe, Daniela Roth, Robin Taylor, Tina Ayers, and Robert W. Kiger., 2006, Vascular Plants of Arizona: Portulacaceae. CANOTIA 2(1): 1-22.