Plants with a branched caudex, similar to
M. oblongifolia. Stems lax to ascending, 10–30 cm. Herbage glabrous to minutely strigose on leaf margins. Leaves basal and cauline; blades oblanceolate, lanceolate, or elliptic, 2–7 cm long; lateral veins of cauline leaves obscure. Flowers: calyx strigose, ciliate, 3–6 mm long, divided 2/3-way to the base; corolla 9–14 mm long; tube glabrous within, equal to or shorter than the limb; filaments inserted at the fornices; style barely longer than the anthers. Nutlets ca. 3 mm long
(Lesica 2012. Manual of Montana Vascular Plants. BRIT Press. Fort Worth, TX).