Plants 15–40(–60) cm. Basal leaves: blades oblong-lanceolate to elliptic-ovate, 20–30(–40) cm, margins entire or ± serrate-dentate (often undulate), faces glabrous or finely stipitate-glandular, sometimes sparsely pilosulous as well (usually shining); cauline leaves similar, smaller. Heads usually borne singly (–2+). Involucres hemispheric or broader, 35–60+ mm diam. Phyllaries 22–24+, unequal, herbaceous, margins not ciliate, faces glabrous or abaxial finely stipitate-glandular; outer (30–)40–70 mm (foliaceous, much surpassing discs). Ray florets (8–)12–27; laminae 15–25(–35) mm. Cypselae 10–13 mm, puberulent and/or finely stipitate-glandular (at least distally).

Flowering Mar–May(–Jun). Shady sites, dry foothills; 10–800 m; Calif.

Wyethia glabra grows in the Coast Ranges, often in the fog belt.