Perennials, 6-25(-42+) cm. Caudices ± branched, branches notably thickened distally. Stems 1-8(-12), erect, leafy, ± branched distally. Leaves basal and cauline, entire, usually densely strigoso-canescent, ± gland-dotted; basal leaves tightly clustered, blades spatulate to oblanceolate; proximal cauline blades oblanceolate; mid blades oblanceolate to linear-oblanceolate, 2.5-5 mm wide; distal blades linear-lanceolate to linear. Heads 1-10(-30) per plant (1-7 per stem), borne singly or in paniculiform to corymbiform arrays. Peduncles 2-13.5 cm, usually densely hairy. Involucres (5-)7-10 × 8-15 mm. Outer phyllaries 8-11, 4-6.5 mm, margins 0-0.3 mm wide, usually scarious, abaxial faces densely hairy. Ray florets 8-14; corollas 11.8-17 mm. Disc florets 25-75(-100+); corollas yellow proximally, yellow or rarely purplish distally, 2.8-3.8 mm. Cypselae 2.4-3.1 mm; pappi of 5-6 obovate, aristate scales 2.1-3.5 mm. 2n = 30, 60. Flowering (Apr-)May-Aug(-Sep). Roadsides, hillsides, open treeless areas, edges of woods; (1500-)2000-2400(-3000) m; Ariz., N.Mex.