Herbs or subshrubs, annual or perennial, moundlike to spindle-shaped (wider than tall). Flowers: petals connate 0.5–3 mm, [20–]30–55[–58] mm; stamens (55–)70–150+, filaments 30–60 mm. 2n = 42.

Flowering Jan–Dec. Rocky slopes and cliffs, arroyos, limestone and volcanic substrates; 500–1500 m; Tex.; Mexico (Chihuahua, Coahuila, Nuevo León, San Luis Potosí, Tamaulipas).

Variety bartonioides is known in the flora area from Brewster, Edwards, Jeff Davis, Presidio, Terrell, Uvalde, Val Verde, and Webb counties.