Shrubs, 30–60 cm. Stems intricately branched, hirtellous, sparsely gland-dotted. Leaves alternate; petioles 1–2 mm; blades (venation obscure) oblong to spatulate, 3–12 × 1–4 mm, bases acute to acuminate, margins entire, apices acute to obtuse, faces tomentose, gland-dotted. Heads in paniculiform arrays. Peduncles 10–30 mm, villous, gland-dotted. Involucres cylindric, 9–11 mm. Phyllaries 20–25 in 5–6 series, greenish, often purple-tinged, 4–5-striate, unequal, (sparsely villous, gland-dotted) margins narrowly scarious (apices rounded, mucronate); outer ovate to lanceolate (ciliate), inner linear-oblong. Florets 20–30; corollas purplish, 6.5–7.5 mm. Cypselae 3.5–4.8 mm, hispidulous; pappi of 26–30 white, barbellulate bristles.

Flowering Mar–Jun. Granitic desert slopes or sands; 600–1200 m; Calif., Nev.; Mexico (Baja California).