Perennials, 30-90 cm. Stems branched from bases, pubescent. Leaves opposite; petioles 1-5 mm; blades 3-nerved from bases, oblong, obovate, or ovate, (15-)30-80 × 10-35 mm, bases cordate or truncate, margins crenate-serrate, apices acute to obtuse, faces sparsely pubescent and gland-dotted. Heads erect, usually in loose, paniculiform arrays, sometimes borne singly. Peduncles 2-15 mm, hispid to hirsute. Involucres cylindric to narrowly campanulate, 8-12 mm. Phyllaries 17-20 in 3-5 series, pale green, often purplish, 5-9-striate, unequal, margins narrowly scarious-ciliate (apices acute to acuminate); outer lance-ovate (sparsely pubescent), inner narrowly lanceolate (glabrous). Florets 10-16; corollas purplish, 7-9 mm. Cypselae 3-4 mm, densely pubescent to velutinous; pappi of 40-52 white, barbellate bristles. 2n = 18. Flowering Jul-Oct. Oak woodlands, open limestone hillsides; 1500-2000 m; Ariz., N.Mex.; Mexico.