Biennials, 40–150 cm. Leaves: basal simple (5–20 mm wide) or 1(–2)-pinnate, 5–25 cm, lobes (3–)5–20+ × (1–)2–8+ mm; cauline 15–50. Heads (20–)40–100 per stem. Peduncles 1–5 cm. Phyllaries white to yellowish, 5–15 × 2–8 mm. Ray florets 0. Disc florets 20–80; corollas whitish, 3–5.5 mm, tubes 2–3 mm, throats funnelform, 1–3 mm, lengths ± 1 times lobes. Cypselae 3–5 mm, ± hirtellous; pappi of 14–18 scales 0.1–1 mm.

Varieties 2 (2 in the flora): c, se United States, n Mexico.

Morphologic distinctions between varieties of Hymenopappus scabiosaeus as treated by B. L. Turner (1956) fail for some specimens.