The young plants are densely soft hairy, but nearly hairless in age. The alternate leaves are thick and stalkless with smooth margins. There are about 3 to 6 flower heads at the top of each stem. It is found on the summer ranges on moist well-drained mountain meadows, and deep rich soils of coniferous forests.
Most losses occur in sheep.
It contains the poisonous glucoside, dugaldin. Although all parts of the plant are poisonous, the fresh plants are more poisonous than the dried ones. The poison is cumulative, and under normal range conditions the animal must feed on the plant about 10 to 20 days before it becomes sick.