Sticky gayfeather

Plants 30–60 cm. Corms subglobose to depressed-globose. Stems stipitate-glandular. Leaves: basal and proximal cauline 1-nerved, linear to linear-lanceolate, 60–110 × 1.5–4(–4.5) mm, gradually or abruptly reduced on distal ¹/2 of stems, stipitate-glandular. Heads in dense, (cylindric) spiciform arrays. Peduncles 0. Involucres cylindro-turbinate, 8–12 × 3–5 mm. Phyllaries in 3–4 series, (green, rarely purplish) oblong-lanceolate to lanceolate-triangular, unequal, densely glandular (mixture of sessile-sunken and slightly elevated glands), margins without hyaline borders, apices broadly to narrowly acute or acuminate (sometimes with indurate mucros). Florets 3–4(–5); corolla tubes glabrous or glabrate inside. Cypselae 5–6 mm; pappi: lengths ± equaling corollas, bristles plumose. 2n = 20.

Flowering (Aug–)Sep–Oct. Limestone outcrops, gentle slopes or flats, shallow gravelly soils over limestone, usually with juniper and yucca; 100–300 m; Tex.