Shrubs, 30-60 cm. Stems intricately branched, hirtellous, sparsely gland-dotted. Leaves alternate; petioles 1-2 mm; blades (venation obscure) oblong to spatulate, 3-12 × 1-4 mm, bases acute to acuminate, margins entire, apices acute to obtuse, faces tomentose, gland-dotted. Heads in paniculiform arrays. Peduncles 10-30 mm, villous, gland-dotted. Involucres cylindric, 9-11 mm. Phyllaries 20-25 in 5-6 series, greenish, often purple-tinged, 4-5-striate, unequal, (sparsely villous, gland-dotted) margins narrowly scarious (apices rounded, mucronate); outer ovate to lanceolate (ciliate), inner linear-oblong. Florets 20-30; corollas purplish, 6.5-7.5 mm. Cypselae 3.5-4.8 mm, hispidulous; pappi of 26-30 white, barbellulate bristles. Flowering Mar-Jun. Granitic desert slopes or sands; 600-1200 m; Calif., Nev.; Mexico (Baja California).

Plant: Shrub 3-6 dm, aromatic; stems slender, rigid, spreading, ± short-tomentose Leaves: alternate, short-petioled, simple, veiny, 0.5-2 cm, oblong to spoon-shaped, puberulent, entire INFLORESCENCE: primary inflorescence a head, each resembling a flower; heads 13-15 mm, generally 1(3), terminal; involucre cylindric; phyllaries ± 21, overlapping, linear-oblong, 4-veined, green or purplish-tinged, ± minutely tomentose, tips erect Flowers: 20-30; corollas cylindric, ± white or tinged red; anther bases rounded or slightly cordate, tips ovate; style branches long, club-shaped, tips rounded Fruit: 3-4.8 mm, 10-ribbed, generally cylindric, hairy; pappus generally of many, generally scabrous bristles Misc: Rocky slopes, desert scrub; 600-1200 m.; Apr-May