Annuals or perennials, to 40 cm (cespitose). Stems erect or decumbent, branched proximally or distally, ± hairy. Leaves linear to oblanceolate or oblong, 8-210 × 1-5.5(-15) mm, (± fleshy in coastal forms) margins entire or with 3-5+ teeth, faces glabrous or ± hairy. Involucres campanulate to depressed-hemispheric or hemispheric, 5-14 mm. Phyllaries (persistent or falling with cypselae) 4-16 (in 1-2 series), elliptic to ovate or lanceolate to oblong, hairy. Receptacles conic, muricate, glabrous. Ray florets 6-16; laminae linear to oblong, 5-18 mm. Anther appendages deltate to sublanceolate. Cypselae black to gray or silver-gray, linear to narrowly clavate, to 4 mm, glabrous or hairy; pappi 0, or of 1-7 translucent (rarely opaque), brown (rarely white), linear to subulate, aristate scales. Plants of Lasthenia californica, especially those in coastal populations, have the largest, showiest heads in the genus. Report of L. californica from Massachusetts was not confirmed for this study

Plant: Low slender annual forb <10 cm; herbage slightly pubescent; stem simple or freely branched, ± hairy Leaves: opposite, 0.8-7 cm, linear to oblanceolate, entire, hairy, ± fleshy in coastal forms INFLORESCENCE: primary inflorescence a head, each resembling a flower; heads radiate, solitary or in cymes; involucre 5-10 mm, bell-shaped or hemispheric; phyllaries 4-13, free, hairy; receptacle conic, rough, glabrous Flowers: Ray flowers 6-13; ligules 5-10 mm, yellow; Disk flowers generally many; corollas generally 5-lobed, yellow; anther tips triangular; style tips triangular Fruit: < 3 mm, linear to ± club-shaped, glabrous or hairy; pappus of 1-7 narrow awns, wider awned scales, or 0 Misc: Many habitats; < 1500 m.; Feb-Jun References: Kearney & Peebles, McDougal