Lewisia brachycarpa S. Watson; Oreobroma brachycalyx (Engelmann ex A. Gray) Howell

Taproots gradually ramified distally. Stems semiprostrate to suberect, 3-8 cm. Leaves: basal leaves withering at or immediately following anthesis, ± sessile or tapered to broad petiole, blade oblanceolate, ± flattened, 3-8 cm, margins entire, apex acute to obtuse; cauline leaves absent. Inflorescences: flowers borne singly on peduncles; bracts 2, ovate to broadly lanceolate, 5-7 mm, margins entire, apex acute to acuminate. Flowers sessile, not disarticulate in fruit; sepals 2, decussate with bracts, ovate, 4-9 mm, herbaceous, margins entire, not glandular, apex acute; petals 5-9, white, sometimes with pink veins, or pinkish, obovate, 12-26 mm; stamens 9-15; stigmas 5-8. Capsules 6-9 mm. Seeds 40-50, 1.5 mm, shiny. 2n = 20.

Flowering late spring-early summer. Montane meadows in sandy soil; 1300-2400 m; Ariz., Calif., Utah; Mexico (Baja California).

As B. Mathew (1989b) noted, plants attributed to New Mexico probably were collected in Arizona.