Perennials or subshrubs, 20-50+ cm. Leaves pinnately lobed, 15-40 mm, lobes 3-5, linear to cuneate or oblanceolate (oil-glands at base of each lobe and subterminal in tips). Peduncles 20-80 mm. Calyculi of 12-16 subulate bractlets 3-8 mm (bearing glands). Involucres obconic, 10-15 mm. Phyllaries 12-20, lanceolate, separating in fruit. Ray florets 10-14; corollas yellow, becoming red-orange; tubes ca. 2 mm, laminae 6 × 2 mm. Disc florets 25-40; corollas yellow-orange, 7-8 mm. Cypselae 5 mm; pappi of 8-12 scales 7-8 mm, each comprising 7-11 basally connate bristles. 2n = 26. Flowering spring and fall. Alluvial fans and rocky slopes in deserts; 0-1200 m; Ariz., Calif., Nev.; Mexico (Baja California, Sonora).
Plant: Subshrub, glabrous; odor unpleasant; stems many, erect, 2-6 dm, generally much-branched Leaves: opposite below, alternate above, 1.5-4 cm, deeply divided; lobes linear, entire to sharply serrate, each with 1 gland at base, 1 near tip INFLORESCENCE: a head, each resembling a flower; heads radiate (discoid); peduncles 2-8 cm, naked or with 1-5 narrow bracts; involucre cylindric; outer phyllaries 12-16, 3-8 mm, erect or recurved, each with a central gland; inner phyllaries 12-20, 10-15 mm, lanceolate, fused below, gland-dotted Flowers: Ray flowers (0)8-12; ligules 2-4 mm, yellow to red-orange; Disk flowers many; corollas 7-8 mm, yellow-orange Fruit: 5 mm achene, obconic, ribbed, sparsely hairy; pappus scales 8-12, 7-8 mm, each dissected into 7-11 bristles Misc: Dry, rocky hillsides, washes; 200-1460 m.; Mar-Jun References: J.C. Hickman, ed. The Jepson Manual.L. Benson & R. Darrow. Trees and Shrubs of the Southwestern Deserts. Kearney & Peebles. Arizona Flora. ASU specimens.