Riddellia tagetina Nuttall var. sparsiflora A. Gray in A. Gray et al., Syn. Fl. N. Amer. 1(2): 318. 1884

Biennials or perennials (rarely flowering first year), 10–40+ cm. Stems ± strigillose (greenish, sometimes ± villous in proximal axils). Heads in ± corymbiform arrays. Peduncles 8–12(–25+) mm. Involucres 4–6 mm. Ray florets (1–)2–3(–4); corolla laminae (6–)8–10+ mm, reflexed in fruit. Disc florets 7–9. Cypselae usually glabrous, sometimes gland-dotted; pap-pi of 4–5 lanceolate to lance-subulate scales 2–3 mm. 2n = 32.

Flowering May–Sep. Grasslands, pinyon-juniper scrub, sagebrush scrub, yellow pine forests; 900–2200 m; Ariz., N.Mex., Utah.