Plants 30–60+ cm (perennating bases ± erect, internodes not winged). Leaves all or mostly opposite (distal sometimes alternate); blades ovate-deltate or rhombic to lance-elliptic, 3–5 × 1–3 cm, bases subtruncate to cuneate, margins coarsely toothed to subentire, apices obtuse to acute, faces ± hirtellous to scabrellous. Heads borne singly. Involucres ± hemispheric, 10–15+ mm diam. Phyllaries 18–30+ in 3–4 series, ± erect, oblong to elliptic, 6–10+ mm. Ray florets 8–13; laminae 15–25+ mm. Disc florets 60–100+; corollas yellow. Cypselae dark brown, ± elliptic, 10 mm, faces glabrous; pappi 0–0.5 mm. 2n = 34.

Flowering (May–)Aug–Sep. Rocky slopes, igneous or limestone substrates; 1200–1800 m; Ariz., N.Mex.; Mexico (Coahuila, Durango, Zacatecas).