Plants 30-150 cm. Heads (50-)100-400+. Phyllaries: outer 4, basally connate ¹/2-²/3 their lengths, 4-5 mm, apices obtuse to acute; inner 4, 3.2-4.5 mm, apices acuminate to mucronate. Ray florets 4; corollas 4-5.5 × 2.3-4 mm. Disc florets 7-11. Cypselae 2.5-3 mm, hairs straight to slightly wavy; pappi usually of 3-6 scales 1.2-2.5 mm, sometimes 0 on disc florets. 2n = 30. Flowering Jun-Nov. Oak-juniper woodlands; of conservation concern; 1300-2200 m; Ariz. Variety ambigens is known from the Mescal, Pinaleno, and Santa Teresa mountains.