Perennials; (pulvinate, caudex woody, many-branched, covered with persistent petiolar remains); densely (grayish) puberulent. Stems simple from base (caudex branch), erect to ascending, un-branched distally, (0.1-)0.3-0.8 dm. Basal leaves not rosulate; petiole often undifferentiated, (expanded base to 2 mm); blade (somewhat fleshy), linear to linear-oblanceolate (when margins entire), or spatulate in outline (when apically 3-5-lobed, lobes obovate to oblong), 3-12(-15) cm × 5-15 mm, margins entire. Cauline leaves sessile; similar to basal, smaller, base not auriculate. Racemes slightly elongated in fruit; rachis puberulent, trichomes straight or curved, cylindrical. Fruiting pedicels divaricate-ascending to subhorizontal, straight or slightly curved, (not winged), (2.5-)3-5(-6.5) × 04-0.5 mm, densely puberulent throughout. Flowers: sepals orbicular to broadly obovate, 1.5-2(-2.5) × 1-1.5(-2) mm; petals white to pale purple, suborbicular to obovate, 2-3.5 × 1.5-2.5(-2.8) mm, claw to 0.5 mm; stamens 6; filaments 1.5-1.8 mm, (glabrous); anthers 0.3-0.5 mm. Fruits ovate, 2.5-3.5(-4) × 2-2.5(-3) mm, apically winged, apical notch 0.05-0.2 mm deep; valves thin, smooth, not veined, glabrous; style 0.3-0.6 mm, exserted beyond apical notch. Seeds ovate, 1.2-1.5 × 0.9-1.1 mm.

Flowering May-Jun. White limestone outcrops and gravel, pinyon-juniper, sagebrush, or pine communities; of conservation concern; 1700-2100 m; Utah.

Lepidium ostleri is known only from the San Francisco Mountains in Beaver County.