- perennial with one or a few ascending stems seldom more than 1 foot tall
- leaves silvery-gray, of various sizes and shapes
- hairs star-shaped, with 4-6 arms
- flowers at branch tips, with 4 yellow petals
- fruit a globose inflated pod ca. 1/4 inch in diameter, hanging on down-curved stalk
- found among shrubs on shallow sandy soils on rocky or gravelly uplands
- Starr and Zapata counties; also in Tamaulipas
- federally listed as Endangered
Photo credit: Lisa Williams