Annuals, 50-200 cm . Stems single, branches virgate, usually glabrous, rarely tomentose. Leaves withered at flowering; basal blades oblanceolate to spatulate, runcinate, 3-10 cm, margins pinnately lobed (faces usually glabrous, rarely tomentose); cauline much reduced, bractlike. Heads borne singly or clustered along branches. Peduncles 3-10 mm, bracteate. Calyculi of appressed or reflexed bractlets. Involucres 6-8 mm. Florets 5-9. Cypselae light tan to dark brown, 2.2-3.6 mm, faces smooth to tuberculate, not grooved; pappi (falling) of 23-28, white bristles, wholly plumose. 2n = 16. The two subspecies of Stephanomeria virgata are often sympatric in southern California. Hybrids are found frequently.