Annuals, 3-12(-16+) cm. Stems decumbent to erect; internodes (1-)3-12(-18+) mm, strigose. Leaves mostly cauline, blades spatulate to narrowly oblanceolate, 8-12(-25+) × 1-3(-5+) mm, not fleshy, faces ± strigillose. Heads at tips of stems. Involucres ± hemispheric, 8-12(-16) mm diam. Phyllaries 26-30+ in 3+ series, the longer ± lance-ovate to oblanceolate, 5-6+ mm (l/w = 2.5-5), apices acute, abaxial faces strigillose to glabrate. Ray florets 12-30+; corollas white or pinkish to lavender adaxially, laminae 5-8+ mm, glabrous abaxially. Disc florets 60-120+; corollas 2.5-3.5+ mm. Cypselae 2-3 mm, faces hairy, hair tips glochidiform; pappi persistent; on ray cypselae ± 10 lanceolate scales 0.2-0.5(-1) mm; on disc cypselae 20+ subulate scales 1-2.5(-4) mm. 2n = 18. Flowering Apr-Jun(-Oct). Sandy soils, alkaline flats, red clays; 1200-2100 m; Ariz., Colo., N.Mex., Tex., Utah, Wyo. The type of Townsendia annua may prove to be conspecific with that of T. strigosa.