Shrubs, 30-200 cm. Stems 1-10+, erect (wandlike), unarmed, evenly pannose. Leaves: primaries linear-filiform, flaccid, 10-40 mm; secondaries filiform-spatulate, 10-20 mm, sparsely tomentose. Heads 4-6. Peduncles 1-3 cm. Involucres turbinate, 8-9 mm. Phyllaries 4-5, oval-elliptic. Florets 4-5; corollas pale yellow, ca. 8 mm. Cypselae 5-6 mm, densely pilose (hairs 4-7 mm); pappi of ca. 20, coarse bristles or subulate scales 3-5 mm. 2n = 60.

Flowering late spring-early summer. Deep sands or dunes, sagebrush scrub; 1200-2100 m; Calif., Nev.