Small-flowered prairie star is an attractive perennial with erect stems to 25 cm tall arising from clusters of cleft basal leaves. The herbage is often densely glandular-pubescent and commonly purple above. The basal leaves are moderately to abundantly haired, especially on the lower surface. The petioles of the basal leaves are 2-6 cm long, with the blades 1-3 cm wide. The blades are cleft, often nearly to the middle into 3-5 divisions which are further cleft into several smaller divisions. The 1-3 stem leaves usually have narrower leaf segments, with the upper leaf nearly sessile.
The inflorescence is at first crowded at the top of the stem, but elongates into a raceme as much as 15 cm long and 5-11 flowered. The calyx is wide at its throat, but tapers gradually to the stem (This is an easy way to distinguish it from other northwest prairie stars. See photo above.). The 5 petals are white to pink, usually slightly unequal, and from 5-10 mm long. The individual petals are cleft 3-5 times, giving the petals a tattered appearance.
Small-flowered prairie star may be found on open, grassy to sagebrush covered slopes, and in open, low altitude forests.
Small-flowered prairie star may be found from British Columbia south along both sides of the Cascades to northern California. It may be found eastward to Alberta, South Dakota, and Colorado.
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