Description: Low slender perennial herb, rarely hairy. Stems to 10 cm (4 in.) long and spreading. Leaves 4 - 14 cm (1.5 - 5.5 in.) long with 9 - 19 elliptical-shaped leaflets less than 1 cm (0.4 in.) long. Inflorescence loosely arranged with 4 -10 small flowers on a stalk. Flowers bilateral (pea-like); sepals 5, fused, bell shaped, hairless; petals bright purplish with whitish eyespot and wingtips, upper petals 5 mm (0.2 in.) wide. Fruit a papery pod, strongly inflated, 1 - 2 cm (0.8 in.) wide, splitting into two papery halves when mature. Time of flowering: late May to June.
Habitat: Found in pinyon-juniper and mixed conifer communities on ridges and open slopes, in washes and gravelly limestone soils. Elevations: 2,075 - 2,775 m (6,800 - 9,100 ft).
Range: Southern Nevada endemic, in Clark and Nye counties. Considered endemic to the Spring Mountains until recent discoveries on the Nellis Air Force Range. Known from the Spring Mountains (Lee Canyon, Carpenter Canyon, Wheeler Pass, and Cold Creek areas), and the Belted Range.
Comments: The stems and leaves are smooth in comparison to the hairy stems and leaves of other eggvetch species.