Caudices mostly simple, 1-1.5 cm diam. Leaves: rosettes solitary; blade oblanceolate to elliptic, ± laminar, 1.5-4 × 0.7-1.5 cm. Inflorescences: floral shoots 5-11 × 0.2-0.3 cm; proximalmost leaf blades 5-10 mm; branches 2-3, simple. Pedicels 2-8 mm. Flowers: calyx 3-4 × 3-4 mm; petals connate 1.5-3 mm, pale yellow, red-lineolate, 9-11 × 1.5-2 mm, tips spreading. 2n = 34.

Flowering early summer. Granite, quartzite, rarely limestone; of conservation concern; 1800-2600 m; Calif.

The type population of subsp. affinis is notable for its solitary, small rosettes of leaves wide for their length, but K. M. Nakai (1987) mentioned plants in Cushenbury Canyon with up to 50 rosettes.

Subspecies affinis is local in the northern part of the San Bernardino Mountains and considered fairly endangered (California Native Plant Society, http://cnps.web.aplus.net/cgi-bin/inv/inventory.cgi).