Shrubs, 10-120 cm. Stems 1-5+, erect, spiny, pannose but for glabrescent streaks. Leaves: primaries forming straight or recurved spines, 5-25 mm; secondaries spatulate, 10-20 mm, tomentose to nearly glabrous. Heads 4-6. Peduncles 2-12 mm. Involucres turbinate to cylindric, 6-9 mm. Phyllaries 4, oblong. Florets 4; corollas bright yellow, 8-10 mm. Cypselae 4-6 mm, densely hirsute; pappi of 75-100 bristles 9-10 mm. 2n = 60.

Flowering spring-summer. Rocky or sandy places, sagebrush scrub or shadscale scrub; 1300-2100 m; Nev., Utah, Wyo.