Found only in extreme southwestern North Dakota, scorpionweed also occurs west to Washington and south to California, Nevada, and Colorado at elevations up to 11,000 ft. Scorpionweed grows as a multi-stemmed perennial from a thick taproot with a woody top.
Plants are usually about a foot tall.
Dense short hairs lend plants a grayish-green color. About the upper half of the plant consists of branched flowering spikes. The numerous brown stamens are conspicuous because they protrude far beyond the flower petals. Each flower produces a tiny capsule with one or two seeds. More plants seem to be found in heavily grazed pastures.