Perennials; caudex branched, (thickened); densely pubescent, trichomes (sessile), several-rayed, rays furcate or bifurcate, usually fused toward base, (strongly tuberculate). Stems several from base, erect or outer decumbent, (unbranched), to 2 dm. Basal leaves: blade elliptic to lanceolate or obovate, 3-8 cm, margins entire. Cauline leaves: (proximal shortly petiolate or sessile, distal sessile); blade elliptic or obovate, to 2 cm, margins entire. Racemes dense. Fruiting pedicels (divaricate-ascending to horizontal, straight to loosely curved), to 15 mm. Flowers: sepals narrowly elliptic or oblong, 4.5-5.3 mm, (tapering to the somewhat thickened, cucullate apex, lateral pair subsaccate); petals (bright yellow), lingulate or broadly obovate, 7.5-8.5 mm, (narrowing to broad claw, joining in an arch, margins lacerate). Fruits (sessile or substipitate), suborbicular to broadly ovate or ellipsoid, slightly compressed, 6-8 mm; valves pubescent; ovules 12-22 per ovary; style 2-3 mm. Seeds flattened. 2n = 10.

Flowering Apr-May. Limestone soils, steep slopes, roadcuts, open woods; 1900-2200 m; N.Mex., Tex.

Physaria valida is known from the Sacramento and White mountains of south central New Mexico, and southward through the Guadalupe Mountains to Hudspeth County, Texas.