This is a smallish, densely tufted perennial arising from a thick woody root and a branched caudex. The leaves are about 3/4" long, clustered, glaucous, and ovate to ± round. The inflorescence is a cluster of flowers on a scapose peduncle. Like the leaves, the peduncle and pedicels are minutely puberulent, sometimes with longer pubescence. The flowers have calyces with five cleft lobes, no petals, and are white to pinkish with a limb about 1/4" wide. The obcordate fruits have five thin-walled wings. Occupying generally dry sandy places at elevations of 5000' to 9000' in sagebrush scrub, pinyon-juniper woodland and montane coniferous forest. This member of the four o'clock family may be found in the San Bernardino Mts, the New York Mts, and the Inyo Mts to Mono County and Nevada, blooming from June to August.

Click here for Latin name derivations: 1) Abronia 2) nana 3) covillei.
Pronunciation: ab-ROE-nee-a NA-na ko-VIL-ee-eye.
Formerly Abronia nana ssp. covillei.
Click here for Botanical Term Meanings.