Perennials, 60-80 cm (caudices woody). Stems branched, pubescent, gland-dotted. Leaves opposite; petioles 0-1 mm; blades 3-nerved from bases, oblong to linear, 20-60 × 2-10 mm, bases cuneate, margins entire or dentate, apices obtuse, faces pubescent, gland-dotted. Heads in open, paniculiform arrays or borne singly (often terminal on lateral branches). Peduncles (20-)30-150 mm, puberulent, gland-dotted. Involucres cylindric to campanulate, 9-10 mm. Phyllaries 25-35 in 6-9 series, greenish, often purple-tinged, 3-9-striate, unequal, margins scarious (ciliate); outer broadly ovate to orbiculate (glandular-pubescent, apices acute to cuspidate), inner lanceolate to linear-lanceolate (glabrous, apices acute to mucronate). Florets 18-25; corollas pale yellow, often purple-tinged, 5.5-7 mm. Cypselae 3-3.5 mm, pubescent to velutinous; pappi of 30-40 white, barbellate bristles. 2n = 18, 18 + 1. Flowering Aug-Oct. Dry hills, canyon walls, mesas, limestone outcrops; 1300-1800 m; Ariz., N. Mex.; Mexico.

Plant: Subshrub 30-50 cm Leaves: leaves opposite, linear, 3-6 cm long, 3-9 mm wide, strongly three-veined beneath