Caudices simple, 1-1.5 cm diam. Leaves: rosettes 6-10 (-25)-leaved; blade shiny green, often with maroon abaxially, ovate to elliptic, 2-5 × 1.5-2.5 cm, apex acute to acuminate, surfaces not farinose, not glaucous. Inflorescences: floral shoots 5-15-leaved, 4-15 cm; cincinni 3+, 3-5-flowered, 1-3 cm. Petals bright yellow, often marked with red, 10-14 × 2.5-3.5 mm. 2n = 34.

Flowering late spring. Shaded rocky slopes; of conservation concern; 200-400 m; Calif.

Subspecies ovatifolia is known from the Santa Monica and Santa Ana mountains; it is considered fairly threatened (California Native Plant Society, http://cnps.web.aplus.net/cgi-bin/inv/inventory.cgi).