Stems 9–20(–32) cm. Heads 1–2(–7), held well beyond basal leaves. Involucres 4.5–6 × 10–13(–16). Phyllaries sparsely villous (hairs mostly 0.3–0.8 mm), minutely glandular. Rays: laminae 5–7 mm. Disc corollas 3–4(–5) mm. Cypselae 1.7–2.4 mm; pappi of 16–20 bristles 3–3.5 mm. 2n = 18.

Flowering May–Aug. Open, grassy sites, with sagebrush, pinyon-juniper, pine-oak, aspen-conifer; 1600–3000(–3700) m; Ariz, Colo., Idaho, Mont., Nev., Utah, Wyo.