Stems branching mostly in distal ¹/2, bases usually more than 7+ mm diam. Leaves (40-)80-160 × 4-8(-12) mm. Involucres 9-14 mm diam. 2n = 16. Flowering Jun-Oct. Desert shrub, pinyon-juniper communities; 600-2300 m; Ariz., N.Mex, Tex.; Mexico.