Plants in groups or sometimes mat-forming, rhizomatous. Leaves basal; petiole flattened, 3-15 cm; blade ovate, 1-5 cm, ± fleshy, base attenuate, margins shallowly crenate-serrate (teeth ca. 2 mm), eciliate, surfaces sparsely tangled, reddish brown-hairy abaxially, glabrate adaxially. Inflorescences 15-50+-flowered, open, lax thyrses, 20-40 cm, purple-tipped stipitate-glandular. Flowers: sepals reflexed, lanceolate to oblong; petals white, with 2 basal yellow spots (often faded when dried), ovate, clawed, 1.5-4.5 mm, longer than sepals; filaments strongly club-shaped, sometimes petaloid (short-clawed, equaling petals); pistils distinct almost to base; ovary superior, (to 1/3 adnate to hypanthium). Capsules greenish to reddish purple, folliclelike. 2n = 20.

Flowering spring. Deeply shaded watercourses, stream banks, seeps; 100-1000 m; Calif., Oreg.