Plants 3–20 cm (self-incom-patible); glandular, not strongly scented. Stems not purple-streaked. Leaf blades oblanceolate or lanceolate to linear, 2–35 mm, margins (basal leaves) lobed. Involucres cylindric or narrowly obconic to campanulate, 4–7 × 2–6+ mm. Phyllaries 0 ("involucres" formed of "paleae"). Paleae in 1 series (interpreted as constituting the involucre). Ray florets 0. Disc florets 5–35+; corollas 2.5–4 mm; anthers yellow to brownish. Ray cypselae 0. Disc pappi of 8–15 whitish to tawny, lanceolate to subulate, ± equal (often apically or marginally notched) scales 0.5–1.5 mm, each ± plumose or villous, not adaxially woolly. 2n = 16.

Flowering Apr–Jun. Open, ± barren slopes and terraces, in chaparral, woodlands, forest, and meadows, on serpentine soils, talus; of conservation concern; 800–1600 m; Calif.

Layia discoidea occurs in the South Inner Coast Ranges (Fresno and San Benito counties). Artificial hybrids with L. glandulosa are highly fertile (J. Clausen 1951).