Stems, distal branches, and phyllaries gland-dotted, glands straw-colored. Involucres 10-15 mm. Ligules white, often with fine reddish veins abaxially, 2-3 cm. Cypselae dark tan to brown, shallowly grooved between ribs, faces weakly cross-rugulose. 2n = 14. Flowering Mar-Jun. Gravels derived from limestone, volcanics, granites, and caliche soils on plains, rocky mesas and slopes, stream bottoms, desert pavement and washes, Upper Sonoran and Lower Sonoran zones, Colorado and Mohave deserts, often in creosote or mesquite associations; 100-1600 m; Ariz., Calif., Nev., N.Mex., Tex., Utah; Mexico (Baja California, Sonora).

Plant: Annual; sap milky; stem: glands pale Leaves: 4-10 cm, basal and lower cauline petioled, 1-2-pinnately divided into long, linear lobes, glabrous; cauline alternate, gradually or abruptly reduced, upper sessile INFLORESCENCE: primary inflorescence a head, each resembling a flower; heads 3-4 cm diam, ligulate, showy, solitary or in open, few-headed cymes; involucre 10-15 mm; phyllaries in 2 series, scarious-margined, outer short, wide, inner many, linear; receptacle minutely bristly, otherwise naked Flowers: many; ligules white, often purple-tinged, especially below, readily withering Fruit: 5-8 mm, 5-6-ribbed, tapered to short beak, roughened on ribs; pappus 5-6.5 mm, white, of many slender bristles that fall together Misc: Desert washes, gravelly slopes, desert plains; 150-1150 m.; Mar-May Notes: glands on stem tack-shaped References: J.C. Hickman, ed. The Jepson Manual.W.D. McDougal. Seed plants of Northern Arizona. ASU specimens.