Perennials (possibly flowering first year), 15-40 cm. Stems seldom, if ever, scapiform, branching from bases and/or distally, glabrous or pilosulous proximally. Cauline leaves (1-)3-9+, proximal mostly spatulate or oblanceolate to linear, margins entire, dentate, or pinnately lobed, distal usually narrowly lanceolate to lance-attenuate, margins usually entire or with 1-2 lobes near bases, sometimes pinnately 3-5(-7+)-lobed. Heads (1-)3-5+ in loose, corymbiform arrays. Calyculi: bractlets 3-5+ in 1-2 series, deltate to subulate, 2-5 mm. Involucres ± cylindric, 12-15(-20+) mm. Phyllaries 13-16+. Florets (20-)30-60+; anthers 3.5-4 mm (pollen equatorial diameters unknown). Cypselae: bodies stramineous, 3-4 mm, beaks 6-7 mm; pappi 6-7 mm. 2n = 12. Flowering May-Sep. Meadows, stream banks, flood plains; 1100-2700 m; Ariz., N.Mex., Tex. For the present, I concur with D. K. Northington (1974) and I treat Pyrrhopappusrothrockii as distinct from P.pauciflorus.
