Plants fleshy.
Stems simple or branched from base, spreading to erect, stout, 2–4(9) cm, maroon or dark green marked with maroon, bases shiny.
Leaves elliptic to oblanceolate, 5–10 mm, fleshy, surfaces hairy.
Inflorescences axis strongly zigzagged; bracts spreading or reflexed, widely elliptic, 2–3 mm; pedicels spreading, straight (curved in age), 3.5–8.5 mm long, 0.2 mm in diameter.
Flowers hypanthia ~1 mm; calyx lobes spreading or reflexed; middle abaxial lobes linear-elliptic, ~0.7 mm; flanking abaxial lobes 2, widely triangular, 1–4 mm; adaxial lobes 2; corollas divided to base, 2-lipped, white; abaxial lobes 2, oblong, acute, 0.4–0.5 mm; adaxial lobes 3, erect, ovate, 1–1.5 mm, glabrous, veins and tips maroon; filaments declined, 1.2–1.6 mm, tips curved, glabrous, cells wide, blunt, anthers 0.2–0.3 mm; ovaries ± inferior in fruit.
Fruits 3–4 mm, tips pointed, bases rounded.
Seeds elliptic, 0.6–0.7 mm, widely zigzag-ridged.
Dry areas, bare soil, sand, volcanic outcrops. Flowering May–Jul. 800–1700 m. BR, Owy. CA, ID, NV. Native.
Nemacladus rigidus is widespread in the Intermountain region. The ovary seems to develop into mature capsules even after being pressed.