Annuals or biennials; pubescent proximally, glabrate distally. Stems usually branched distally, rarely unbranched, 2-8.5(-10) dm, (often densely pubescent proximally, trichomes flat, crisped). Basal leaves (soon withered); not rosulate; blade oblong, 2-10 cm × 10-30 mm, margins entire or dentate, (surfaces glabrous or sparsely pubescent). Cauline leaves sessile; blade (proximalmost) oblong or (distal) oblong to ovate, base auriculate to amplexicaul, margins usually entire or dentate (rarely dentate distally). Racemes dense. Fruiting pedicels divaricate-ascending to spreading, straight, (slender), 6.5-14(-21) mm, (glabrous or pubescent). Flowers: sepals (calyx often urceolate), erect, yellowish, 3.5-5.5 × 1.5-2 mm, (sparsely pubescent); petals yellow, oblong, 6.5-9(-10) × 1-1.7 mm, (margins crisped), claw 3.5-5 mm (to 2 mm wide); median filament pairs 4-5 mm; anthers linear, 2.5-3.5 mm; gynophore (stout), 0.5-1.5 mm. Fruits suberect to divaricate-ascending or spreading, straight, slightly torulose, 4-8(-9.5) cm × 1.2-1.7 mm; (valves sparsely pubescent at least when immature); ovules 70-94 per ovary; style subclavate, 0.7-2 mm; stigma 2-lobed. Seeds 1-1.7 × 0.7-1 mm. 2n = 22.

Flowering Apr-Jun. Rocky knolls, sandy or clay grounds in juniper and shrub communities; 1200-2100 m; Utah.

Thelypodiopsis divaricata is known from Carbon, Emery, Garfield, Grand, Kane, San Juan, and Wayne counties.