Plants 50–150+ cm (perennating bases ± erect, internodes not winged). Leaves all or mostly opposite (distal sometimes alternate); blades ± rhombic to ovate, 5–12+ × 3–6+ cm, bases rounded to cuneate, margins coarsely toothed to subentire, apices ± acute, faces ± scabrellous. Heads borne singly or (2–)5–15+ in loose, corymbiform arrays. Involucres ± hemispheric, 10–20+ mm diam. Phyllaries 24–30+ in 2–3 series, ± erect, spatulate or oblanceolate to lanceolate, 5–12+ mm. Ray florets 10–13; laminae 12–25+ mm. Disc florets 60–100+; corollas yellow. Cypselae dark brown, narrowly lance-elliptic, 8–10 mm, faces glabrous or sparsely hirtellous; pappi 3–4 mm.

Flowering May. Chaparral or coastal scrub; 30–200 m; Calif.; Mexico (Baja California).