lants perennial, caulescent, glaucous, from stout taproots. Stems 1 or more, rigidly erect, 10-20(-40) dm, 2-3 cm or more diam. at base. Leaves (12-)25-35(-50) × (6-)10-20(-35) cm; blade with 4 orders of leaflets and lobes; ultimate leaflets (10-)20-30(-60) × (5-)8-15(-30) mm, ultimate lobes linear-lanceolate. Inflorescences terminal, paniculate, 5-many-flowered, subglobose; bracts nearly round to ovate, 4-8 × 3-7 mm, margins entire. Flowers erect; pedicel rigid, 2-10 mm; sepals nearly round to ovate, (5-)7-10(-12) × 3-7(-9) mm; petals dull to yellowish white; outer petals purple-tipped, (15-)22-26(-30) mm, reflexed portion 5-12 mm; inner petals (15-)20-22(-24) mm, claw 6-9 mm and 2/3 width of blade, crest 3-5 mm diam., exceeding apex by 2-4 mm; filaments of each bundle connate from base to shortly below anthers, rarely distinct from near base; nectariferous tissue borne at base of median filament, not projecting into outer petal; stigma shallowly 2-horned, ca. 2 times wider than long. Capsules ovoid, attenuate at both ends, (10-)20-30(-35) × 5-8 mm. Seeds slightly reniform, ca. 1.3 (rarely to 2) mm diam., densely covered with tiny protuberances, elaiosome absent. 2 n = 32.

Flowering early spring-late summer. Dry gravelly hillsides, gullies, and disturbed areas, often invading after fire; 15-2200 m; Calif.

The seeds of Dicentra ochroleuca usually do not germinate unless desiccated or seared by fire.