Plant: Stem ascending to erect, 3-30 cm Leaves: cauline, often with basal rosette, generally simple, alternate; lower sometimes opposite, entire INFLORESCENCE: cyme, pedicels in fruit 0.5-1 mm, twisted Flowers: sepals in fruit > nutlets, upper 2 >> others, partly fused, arched over 1 nutlet, ± bur-like, with 5-10 stout spines, each with hooked bristles, lower 3 sepals distinct Fruit: Fruit: nutlets 2, 1-4 mm, dissimilar, ± oblanceolate, margins entire Misc: Dry sites in chaparral, coastal scrub, grassland; < 450 m.; Mar-Apr Notes: nutlets 2, enclosed in distorted, spiny calyx References: J.C. Hickman. The Jepson Manual. Kearney & Peebles. Arizona Flora. W.B. McDougal. Seed plants of Northern Arizona. ASU specimens.